Lesson 1: Virtues of Fasting
Taught By: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- Quranic Reminder: O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew. The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (Surah Baqarah – 183-187)
- Allah then relates to us the key rulings related to Fasting. Then Allah tells us that in the auspicious month of Ramadan, the Quran was sent down. The verse right after tells us the consequence of fasting. This relates directly to the very purpose of fasting. Because, the Prophet (SAW) told us that whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and sincere seeking, all their past sins shall be forgiven. This is what Allah is telling us here, and they relate to the fast. This responding is heeding his call.
Key Lessons from these verses:
1) What is the purpose of the month of Ramadan? To become the people of Taqwa because Taqwa is the best of provisions of this life because this world is a travelling place and what you do in this life is a preparation for the hereafter and in that journey, the very best thing you can have to sustain you is piety. And there is a very strong relationship between Taqwa and fasting. Because Taqwa places a shield between you and that which is displeasing to Allah (SWT). It is refraining from that which is displeasing from Allah (SWT). And Saum itself means to refrain. Similarly fasting as an act of worship is refraining from certain acts. So, that refraining from certain number of matters is to inculcate a sense of refraining in general in life from that which is displeasing to Allah (SWT). Piety is a provision for seeking Allah (SWT).
2)Our duty is to seek nearness to Allah (SWT). Allah tells us He is near. Then what should we do? We should seek nearness.
3)This is the month in which the Quran was sent down. This guidance which is the Quran is the greatest gift and it leads to salvation as well as attains the pleasure of Allah.
4) Fasting leads to gratefulness. Thankfulness is the bridge to the love of Allah (SWT).
How did the Prophet (SAW) spend Ramadan?
- He was more avid in this month to do good. His house was illuminated by worship. He made this month (Ramadan) a means to seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT).
Benefits of Fasting:
- In Hadith Qudsi, it is mentioned, that Allah (SWT said: All the actions of children of Adam are for them except for fasting. Fasting is for me and it is I who reward it. And the hadith continues to say that Fasting is a shield.
- By the one whose hands is the soul of Muhammad (SWT), the breath of the fasting one is more pleasing to Allah (SWT) than the most precious perfume.
- The fasting person has two joys: when they break their fast and when they meet their Lord. Both in the hereafter and if they fast out of faith with sincerity with closeness to Allah (SWT).
- Fasting is a unique action unlike other actions and what is unique about it is that it is a inherently sincere action. It is not an action but a state of non action. You are not doing anything. You are refraining from doing certain things. Given that you aren’t doing anything, you can’t really show off in the act of fasting itself. You can show off in details but it is inherently sincere.
- Fasting express the reality of your relationship with Allah (SWT). When you fast, you realize your neediness of Allah (SWT). In that state of physical neediness of food, drink, sustenance, a window may open out of faith and sincere seeking of Allah that in everything in life, you are in absolute need of Allah (SWT).
- This may lead to you being in a state where you feel an absolute neediness to Allah (SWT). And you realize that Allah alone is the one who is free of all need and worthy of all praise.
- Fasting is an expression of Tauheed. i.e. I am in absolute need of Allah.
- Fasting is not just an act of refraining of food but an expression of Tauheed.
- You are forgiven when you repent and repentance is rujoo3 – it is returning. And this is the greatest action during Ramadan – to return to Allah (SWT).
- You fast as an expression of faith.
- This sincere seeking means that you remember why you are fasting. Not just thinking about what’s for suhoor and Iftaar.
- The Prophet (SAW): When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are open and the gates of Paradise are closed and the devils are chained.
- People find this hadith confusing because they say if the gates of paradise are opened, why am I in such a miserable state and if gates of hell are closed and devils chained, why am I committing sins or why are all these temptations hitting me?
- Why do we sin and fail in this month? The gates of Paradise are opened, but you are not in it. Also, the gates of hell are closed meaning that those influences that would get you towards sin are more distant from you but doesn’t mean you are safe from hell. The devils are chained. The scholars have all kinds of possibilities of what this hadith could mean but it is from the Prophetic wisdom that the Prophet didn’t specify.
- Most plausible: Chained down. Weighed down so their ability to cause you misgivings and tempt you is limited so their effect is not as it is in other months. Doesn’t mean they are not there.
- How do we avoid sinning and failing so we can direct ourselves to the gates of Paradise?
- Ar Rayyan – gates for the people of fasting. (From the 8 gates of Paradise)
- Abu Bakr (r.a) – Would there be anyone who will be given a choice to enter any of these gates? You see the attitude of Abu Bakr. The Prophet (SAW) said: Yes and I hope that you will be one of them. <3
- And that should be the attitude of the people of faith: To become true believers and to become of the siddiqeen. People who are veracious – champions of truth.