بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In [2:183]:
"O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun"
What is the wisdom behind fasting? "لعلكم تتقون"
And at the end of Verse 187:
"...Thus does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things, Allah's set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqun..."
In between these two verses are the verdicts of Fasting. The context of Fasting begins and ends with Taqwa. What do we conclude from this? Allah didn't prescribe fasting except for this goal. This is what we want to achieve when we abstain from food and drink from Fajr and Maghrib. We want to be a Muttaqi by fasting; because this is the purpose behind Allah ordaining it.
Whenever Allah prescribed any act of worship, He prescribed it for a purpose.
E.g. الصلاة - The Prayer
In [29:45]:
"Recite (O Muhammad ﷺ) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do."
Our prayer should prevent us from committing major sins, evil, having illegal relationships, etc. And as long as a person prayed, his outward actions are considered sufficient for him, and he won't be asked to repeat his prayer. But he may have prayed without attaining the goal and purpose of prayer.
Similarly, with Fasting. People abstain from food and drink throughout the day, and are considered fasting people (and won't be asked to repeat it), but they may not achieve the goal - which is Taqwa.
We don't want our fast to be like any other persons fasting. We want to achieve piety out of our fasting.
What are the virtues of Taqwa? In many verses in the Qur'an, Allah mentioned the virtue of piety.
E.g. In [65:2-5]
"...And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty)."
"...and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him."
"That is the Command of Allah, which He has sent down to you, and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his reward."
It's a key to getting out of any difficulty, of getting provision, of your affairs being made easy, of expiation of sins, of having abundant rewards.
And Allah prepared Paradise for the Muttaqeen. In [3:133]:
Taqwa will not just benefit the person in the Dunya, but in the hereafter as well. In [19:71-72]:
"Then We shall save those who use to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.) therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)."
Everyone will cross the Sirat on the Day of Judgement, which will be set over Hellfire. No one is exempted. Whoever doesn't cross it will fall into Hell. But Allah will save those who had Taqwa from falling into it.
Accordingly, ones salvation is piety. The more piety you have, the more you'll be saved.
What is the description of the true fast?
It is necessary to know the correct way of fasting in order to attain Taqwa. We don't want our fast to be mere abstinence from eating and drinking and other nullifiers, like the rest of the people. We want a fast which pleases Allah, and will give us Taqwa. We don't want our fast to be empty or in vain - and that's when one forgets to accomplish Taqwa through it.
When you're taking the Suhoor, have the intention that you're abstaining from eating and drinking, carrying out Allah's command, following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, with the hope of attaining Taqwa. Hope that your fast is a means of attaining piety. Add this hope to your intention.
The Virtues of Fasting
Hadith #1 -
عن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ ، الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعمِائَة ضِعْفٍ ، قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ : إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي ، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ ، يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي )
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied between ten and seven hundred times. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, said: Except fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for My sake.” [Muslim #1151]
Allah says that a person will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times for every good deed. But the reward of fasting is different; more abundant. What kind of reward do you expect from a Lord who is Generous? And this makes fasting a special and beloved act of worship to Allah.
Hadith #2 -
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ سَبْعِينَ عَامًا"
It was narrated from Abu Sa`eed that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts one day in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, Allah will separate his face from the fire by (a distance of) seventy years." [An-Nasaa'i #2247]
When you fast for 29 or 30 days, how many years will you be set away from Hellfire? Almost 2,000 years. And there is no other good deed or pillar of Islam that gives you this reward.
Hadith #3 -
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ"
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger ﷺ as saying: "Fasting is a shield." [Muslim #1151]
A shield from what? The Scholars said that Fasting protects a person from every evil, and every matter which causes him grief. It protects the person from vile speech, bad deeds, the Anger of Allah, the punishment of Hellfire. It is a protection generally from every evil in the Dunya and in the hereafter.
عن ابن مسعود قَالَ : " كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَبَابًا لَا نَجِدُ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ منكُم الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ ، وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ )
Ibn Mas‘ood, who said: We were with the Prophet ﷺ young men who had nothing of wealth. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to us: “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him.”
Why? Because when the person doesn't eat and drink, his body becomes weakens and the veins become constricted. The flow of blood will be slower. And the Prophet ﷺ said the Shaytan flows through the veins of a person. So when a person is fasting and his blood doesn't flow easily, the Shaytan cannot flow in his body of easily to whisper evil suggestions in him.
You may say how, when the devils are chained? The Scholars said that the narrations refer to the big Shayateen, not the little ones. So don't let the little Shayateen whisper in your heart during fasting.
Hadith #4 -
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم "إِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ ".
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the (Hell) Fire are closed, and the devils are chained." [Bukhari #3227]
Take advantage of this month. And let whatever you acquire of Taqwa in this month help you for the rest of the year, until you reach the next Ramadan and take another portion. And you'll be upgraded and upgraded and elevated in degrees.
Fasting is a Beloved act of worship to Allah. Allah loves fasting, that's why He rewarded it with these rewards, and made it a means of attaining Taqwa.
What is the connection between Taqwa and Fasting?
What is the wisdom behind Allah particularizing Fasting out of all the other pillars of Islam as a means of attaining Taqwa?
What is the wisdom behind Allah particularizing Fasting out of all the other pillars of Islam as a means of attaining Taqwa?
When you fast, you abstain from eating, drinking, and avoiding having relations with ones spouse although you have the ability to do all that. The food and drink is in front of you, you may be alone, and can easily violate this fast without anyone knowing - but you don't out of Fear of Allah. You know Allah is watching and observing you.
And Taqwa means avoiding violating the prohibitions of Allah, while you have the ability to do that, out of Fear of Him. There is something حرام in front of you which you can do, but you don't out fear of Allah.
This is the secret which Allah placed in Fasting. If you practice fasting, it'd undoubtedly train you to prevent yourself from the حرام - not because you're afraid of the people, but out of fear of Allah.
Accordingly, all these meanings should be alive in your heart when you fast. Every day you fast, bring the intention and hope to attain Taqwa in front of your eyes.
Taqwa isn't limited to the month of Ramadan
When we come out of Ramadan, and have attained Taqwa, we have to continue practicing Taqwa in all our affairs throughout the year. We have to avoid committing sins, no matter what it may be, as much as we can, out of fear of Allah. We have to turn away from the حرام.
E.g. When dealing with People. You have to practice Taqwa when you deal with your husband, children, neighbor, manager, someone who trusted you sith something, etc - by giving them their rights. Why? Because you're afraid of Allah. Allah will ask you about their rights on the Day of Judgement. Practice Taqwa in every relationship. Keep your promises and your covenants to the people.
E.g. Attaining unlawful money is easy for you and no one sees you. You can take some, and replace it later. But your fear of Allah's observation and punishment prevents you from extending your hand. Your Taqwa is preventing you.
E.g. When you are alone in your room, what prevents you from looking and listening to unlawful speech? Or suspecting, hating! envying people? What prevents you from committing all the حرام? Your Taqwa.
And what will help you be a Muttaqi? Fasting
The meaning of Taqwa should be alive in our hearts every day when we fast. With new technology and communication, the حرام comes to your room without you going to it. You need to close your eyes, your ears, the mobile, and turn away from it.
And every sin you do will diminish the level of Taqwa.
There are people who have spotless, sin free fasts during the day. They recite the Quran and are doing good from Fajr until Maghrib, and even cry behind the Imam in Taraweeh, but after it finishes they go home and sit in front of their mobiles watching. All the Taqwa they attained during the day diminished. Day by day they'll lose their level of Taqwa until none will be left at the end of Ramadan. That's why people enter and leave Ramadan the same people. They're fasting and doing good, but commit sins which shave their Taqwa.
If you leave Ramadan not wanting to go near the sin, watching your eyes, your ears, your heart, your actions, having Taqwa of Allah, hastening towards good deeds, feeling bad if you miss any opportunity of good, receive glad tidings. You're a winner in this month. This is what we need to come out of Ramadan with.
E.g. A man who always go for Fajr prayer misses one prayer, and he feels sad. He knows he's missing out on the reward, where the Prophet ﷺ said, "Give glad tidings to the ones who walk in the darkness to the mosques, with full light on the Day of Judgement” [Abu Dawud]
He doesn't want to be a loser with Allah, not because he's afraid the people will ask him where he was. This is the person whose heart is filled with Taqwa. He always hastens towards good deeds and avoids sinful acts. And if he commits a sin he feels very upset. He doesn't say, "It's okay I can make it up later". He isn't pleased with himself if he commits a sin. He fears Allah.
An Example of a Muttaqi in the Qur'an
When the wife of the Aziz sought to seduce Yusuf عليه السلام, he said in [12:23]:
He said "معاذ الله" because no one could protect him from her except Allah. A charming, noble woman, offered herself to him, alone, where no one could see them, but his fear of Allah made him say that.
And when she threatened him if he didn't answer her call, he said in Verses 32-33:
"She said: "This is he (the young man) about whom you did blame me (for his love), and I did seek to seduce him, but he refused. And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and will be one of those who are disgraced."
He resorted to Allah out of fear of Allah.
Therefore, Allah said about him on the tongue of Yusuf عليه السلام in Verse 90:
"They said: "Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)?" He said: "I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinun to be lost."
He practiced Taqwa of Allah and was patient, and Allah will never let the reward of the محسنين go in vain.
And the Prophet ﷺ said among the seven who will be shaded on the Day of Judgement on the day when there's no shade except that shade is:
"..وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّه.."
"...A man whom a beautiful woman of high status seduces but he rejects her by saying I fear Allah..."
One of the Salaf used to call the people to righteousness, and the wicked amongst them were fed up of him and wanted to try him. They brought an adulteress and told her to go and seduce this righteous man and she did. She went wearing very transparent clothes, and while he was walking, she came to him and exposed herself to him. And he said, "O woman, Fear Allah. Will you be able to bear your body being burnt on the Day of Judgement?" and he started to advise her until she repented and quit the sin. The wicked people then said, "We sent her to change him, but he changed her"
Allah will be with the righteous. There is no fear for the متقي, even if the situation is prepared for him to commit the sin. Allah will protect him. So we need to increase our Taqwa, in order that Allah will be with us.
In [16:128]:
"Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinun"
We want to observe fast in a way pleasing to Allah, in order to acquire Taqwa. And when we attain it, we need to practice it in all our affairs, throughout the entire year, and our entire lives.
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