Chapter 201: About the Obligation of Fasting in Ramadhan

Translation: [ { Among the means of purifying the soul, fasting occupies the third degree in importance. Sexual desire and that of the stomach are two overpowering desires that incite man to deviate from the straight path.

Translation: Fasting helps a Muslim to overcome them both so fasting is counted one of the purification factors for the soul. If patience occupies the highest rank of the virtue, fasting is its means. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said as:

Translation: A man of Bano Saleem said: ' The Messenger of Allah said: “... Fasting is one half of patience... "

Allah has decreed that fasting leads to piety. The Noble Koran says:

Translation: " O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was imposed on those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint. * " (2: 183)

Translation: Piety is Allah's commandment to His servants. Allah says:

Translation: " And by the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it, * And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right, * Truly he succeeds that purifies it * And he fails that corrupts it. * " (91: 7-10)

Translation: Fasting is of two types, obligatory and supererogatory and its wisdom is not hidden from those who live in Islamic environments, so we limit our study to the manners of the person observing fasting. Here is what Al-Ghazali said in this regard. }

Translation: Secrets of fasting and its inner conditions

Translation: Please be informed that fasting is of three types: the fasting of the common people, the fasting of the majority, and the fasting of the minority. As to the fasting of the common people, it is abstention from food and sex. The fasting of the majority is debarring the heart from mean concerns and worldly pleasures, as well as distracting one's heart entirely from others besides Allah. Breaking this kind of fast occurs when the one observing the fasting preoccupies himself with others besides Allah and the Last Day or when he preoccupies himself with the worldly pleasures, except those that are acquired by legal means.

Translation: "... Say: " Allah " then leave them to plunge in vain discourse and trifling. * " (6:91)

Translation: As to the minority fasting, it is the fasting of the righteous people. It is the abstention of the limbs and organs from evil. This has six conditions:

Translation: The First:

Translation: 1. Lowering one's gaze from unlawful scenes and whatever distracts from the remembrance of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said:

Translation: " The glance is one of Satan's poisonous arrows. He that abstains from it through fear of Allah, Allah will grant him belief and he will taste its sweetness in his heart. "

The Second:

Keeping one's tongue from backbiting, slandering, lewdness, and dispute, along with compelling it to silence. and preoccupying it with the remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Noble Koran. This fasting is related to the tongue. Sofyan said: " Backbiting spoils fasting. " Muahed narrated: " Two acts spoil fasting slandering and telling lies. "

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said as:

Translation: Narrated by Abu-Huraira: ' Allah's Messenger said: " Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual acts and should not behave foolishly or impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should say twice: ' I am fasting. " The Prophet added: " By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is better than the smell of musk in the sight of Allah

Translation: . (Allah says about the fasting person): ' He has left his food, drink, and desires for My sake. Fasting is for Me. So, I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times. 3333 "

The Third:

A fasting person should avoid hearing or listening to improper speech. The Noble Koran equalizes between. devouring people's wealth unlawfully and listening to falsehood through verse 42 of chapter 5. It says about some People of the Book:

Translation: (They are fond of) listening to falsehood, of devouring anything forbidden... " (5: 42) And

Translation: " Why do not the rabbis and the doctors of religious Law forbid them from their (habit of) uttering sinful words and eating forbidden things? Evil indeed are their works. ** (5:63) The Fourth:

Translation: A fasting person should keep his limbs (i.e. his hands and feet) from detested actions and his stomach from suspect food. The fast is rendered futile if the fasting person refrains from lawful food but then he breaks his fasting on unlawful food. The similitude of such fasting is like he one who builds a palace but destroys a town. Overeating lawful food harms one's health, so fasting was imposed to remove such harm. A patient who refuses to take a big dose of medicine through fear of its harm and sips poison instead is stupid, and unlawful objects likewise destroy the religion. A small quantity of the lawful objects is beneficial while a large amount is harmful, thus fasting aims at lessening that harm. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said as:

Translation: Narrated by Abu-Huraira: ' The Messenger of Allah said: “ How many a fasting person whose share of his fasting is mere hunger. "

It was said that the above Hadith refers to a fasting person who breaks his fast with unlawful food. Another opinion is that it is he who abstains from lawful food but backbites and slanders people. A third opinion is that it is he who does not prevent his limbs from sinful deeds.

The Fifth:

A fasting person should not overeat when he breaks fast, as overfilling the stomach, even with lawful food, is detested by Allah.

It is well known that the objective of the fast is to weaken desires and whims and to help the soul to attain piety. Overfilling stomach strengthens desires and stirs latent desires that become aroused due to overeating. The desired result of fasting is to weaken man's desires as they are Satan's vehicle to evil. A moderate meal helps in this regard.

Of the manners of observing fasting is not to sleep for a long time during the day so the fasting person avoids feeling hunger and thirst, in order for his heart to be purified. By so doing, he is able to perform At-Tahajjod prayer. If Satan tried to incite him [ to sleep for a long time], he is required to look at the heavens.

Laylatol Qadr is the night when some of the secrets of the unseen were revealed. This is understood from Allah's statement

Translation: " We have indeed revealed this (Message) in Magnificent Night. * " (97: 1)

Translation: He that filled his stomach with food has set a screen between his heart and his chest. And it is not enough for he that empties his stomach to remove that screen, if he does not dedicate himself totally to Allah as this is the supreme end. The Sixth:

Translation: A fasting person's heart should be suspended between hope and fear as he does not know for certain whether his fasting will be accepted. He must feel this in every act of worship. It was narrated that Al-Hasan Al-Basri passed by a group of people who were laughing. He said: " Indeed, Allah has appointed the month of Ramadhan as a race for people to vie with one another in obedience. Some have won and others have lost. One wonders at a person who laughs on a day when the winners have won and the losers have lost. "

Abu Al-Darda'a said: " Both the sleeping and breaking fast of a prudent person are praised. How do they not then defame the fasting and watchfulness of a fool? " This is sufficient and now let us read what Imam Al- Nawawi compiled Allah said:

Translation: " O you who believe! Observing fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before. you, that you would attain piety. * (Observing fasting) is for a fixed number of days (in the month of Ramadhan), but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days that he did not observe the fasting should be compensated for) from other days. And as for those who fast with difficulty (e.g. an old man, etc.), they have (the choice either to observe fasting or) to feed a destitute person (for every day missed). But whoever does good of his own accord it is better for him. And (bear in mind that) observing fasting it is better for you if only you know.

Translation: * The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Koran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So, whomever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhan, i.e. is present in his homeland), he must observe fasting that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days that one does not observe fasting must be compensated) for other days. Allah wills for you ease, and He does not will to make things difficult for you. (He wills that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah (to recite Takbeer: " Allah Akbar (Allah is the Most Great). ") for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. * " (2: 183-185)

Translation: The Messenger of Allah said as:

654. Narrated by Abu-Huraira: ' A nomad came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: " Tell me of such a deed that would admit me into Paradise. " The Prophet said: " Worship Allah, and worship none along with Him, offer the (five) prescribed compulsory prayers perfectly, pay the compulsory zakat and fast in the month of Ramadhan. " The nomad said: " By Him in Whose Hands my soul (life) is I will not do more than this. " When he (the nomad) left, the Prophet said: " Whoever wants to see a man from the rightful dwellers of Paradise, then he can look at this man. (Bukhari)

Translation: 655. Narrated Abu-Huraira: " Allah's Messenger said: " Observing fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter from Hellfire). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual acts and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody quarrels with him or abuses him, he should say to him twice: ' I am observing fasting. " " The Prophet added: “ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming from the mouth of a person observing fasting is better for Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person): He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. Fasting is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 656. Narrated Abu-Huraira: (See the Hadith No. 667, plus the addition): " All the deeds of Adam's sons (i.e. human beings) are for themselves, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. " There are two joyful occasions for the person observing fasting, one at the time of breaking fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord and he will be pleased because of his fasting. (Bukhari)

Translation: 657. Narrated Abu-Huraira: ' Allah's Messenger said: " Whoever gives two kinds (of things or property) in charity for Allah's Cause will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed: ' O servant of Allah! Here is prosperity., So whoever was amongst the people who used to offer the prayers will be called from the gate of the prayer. Whoever was amongst the people who used to participate in Jihad, will be called from the gate of Jihad. Whoever was amongst those who used to observe fasting, will be called. from the gate of Al-Rayyan. Whoever was amongst those who used to give zakat (charity), will be called from the gate of zakat (charity). " Abu-Bakr said: " Let my parents be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Messenger! No distress or need will befall him who will be called from those gates. Will there be any one who will be called from all of these gates? " The Prophet replied: " Yes, and I hope you will be one of them. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 658. Narrated Sahl: ' The Prophet said: " There is a gate in Paradise called Al-Rayyan, and those who observe fasting will be admitted through it on the Day of Resurrection and none but them will be admitted through it. It will be said: “ Where are those who used to observe fasting? They will get up, and none but them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 659. Narrated Abu- Sa'eed Al-Khudri: ' Allah's Messenger said: " No servant of Allah will fast for a day while engaged in Jihad, except that Allah will remove him from Hellfire a distance of seventy years for that day. " " (Agreed upon, and this version is from Muslim.)

Translation: 660. Narrated Abu-Huraira: ' Allah's Messenger said: " Whoever observes fasting during the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 661. Narrated Abu-Huraira: " The Prophet or Abul- Qasim said: " Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadhan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if it is overcast (and you cannot see the crescent) complete thirty days of Sha'aban. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 662. Narrated Abu-Huraira: ' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “ When it is the first night of Ramadhan, the devils and the rebels from the jinn are tied down; the gates of the Fire are closed and no gate of them is opened but the gates of Paradise are opened and no gate of them is closed. And a caller calls: " O you who intends to do good, go ahead. O you who intend to do evil, abstain. And for Allah, there are people acquitted from the Fire every night. " (At-Termizi)