LESSON SIX

VALUE AND REWARD OF FASTING

عَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ اَدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ اَمْثَالِهَا اِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى اِلَّا الصَّوْمُ فَاِنَّهُ لِىْ وَاَنَا اَجْزِىْ بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ اَجْلِىْ لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عَنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ وَلَخَلُوْفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ اَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ رِيْحِ الْمِسْكِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَاِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ اَحَدِكُمْ فَلَا يَرْفَثْ وَلَا يَصْخَبْ فَاِنْ سَابَّهُ اَحَدٌ اَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ اِنِّىْ امْرُءٌ صَائِمٌ (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

Abu Hurairah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam [whilst explaining the virtue and value of fasting] said, “The reward on every virtuous deed is increased from ten to seven hundred times [i.e. the general principle of divine recompense on all the good deeds of the Muslims of this ummah is that on every good deed of theirs, the reward will at least be ten times more compared to the earlier nations, and sometimes even more, so much so that some chosen servants will receive seven hundred times more reward for their virtuous acts]. However Allaah Ta’ala said, “except fasting [i.e fasting is an exception to this rule]. It is a special gift of the servant for Me, and I shall reward him directly for it [as I please]. The servant forgoes food and drink solely for My sake. [I shall therefore recompense him for his sacrifice as I deem fit.]” There are two moments of special joy for the man who fasts. One is when he breaks his fast, and the other will be [in the hereafter] when he will be presented before His Sustainer. I swear that the odour emanating from the mouth of a person who is fasting is more pleasing to Allaah than the sweet smell of musk [just as humans love the smell of musk, Allaah loves the odour of the mouth of the fasting person]. Fasting is a shield [for protection in this world against the attacks of the devil and in the hereafter against the fire of Jahannum]. When any one of you keeps a fast, he must not utter indecent words nor raise his voice. If anyone uses vulgar language on him or wants to fight with him, he should simply say, ‘I am fasting.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

COMMENTARY: Most of the explanation of the hadith has been included in the translation. In the guidelines given at the end of the hadith, there is an indication that the special blessings and virtues mentioned for fasting are for those people, who in addition to shunning food and drink and staying away from fulfilling their sexual desires, abstain from all sins and other undesirable actions. In another hadith [which will be mentioned soon], it is stated that Allaah has no need for that person who stays hungry and thirsty by fasting, but does not refrain from evil-doing.

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ اِنَّ فِى الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُّقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ اَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ اَيْنَ الصَّائِمُوْنَ؟ فَيَقُوْمُوْنَ لَا يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ اَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ فَاِذَا دَخَلُوْا اُغْلِقَ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ اَحَدٌ (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

Sahl ibn Sa’d RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Nabi SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “There is a special gate of Jannat which is known as Rayyan and only those who fast will be allowed to enter through it on the Day of Resurrection. On that day, an announcement will be made, “Where are those who used to fast [for the sake of Allaah and endure the pangs of hunger and thirst]?” Such servants will stand up. No one besides them will be permitted to enter this gate. When they will enter Jannat [through this gate], it will be shut, and no one else will be able to enter by it.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

COMMENTARY: Thirst is the most severe hardship one has to bear during a fast, and the greatest sacrifice a man who is fasting makes is that he remains thirsty. Complete satisfaction of thirst should, as such, form the most prominent part of the reward for fasting. Hence, the distinguishing quality of the gate that has been set aside for the entry of those who fast is to satiate them. Rayyan literally means satiation. Thereafter, when a person reaches Jannat, the bounties of Allaah which he will be blessed with, is only known to Allaah Ta’ala. Allaah Ta’ala states, [الصَّوْمُ لِىْ وَاَنَا اَجْزِىْ بِهِ] “Fasting is solely for Me, and I will grant its reward.”

عَنْ اَبِىْ اُمَامَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ مُرْنِىْ بِاَمْرٍ يَنْفَعُنِىَ اللهُ بِهِ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّوْمِ فَاِنَّهُ لَا مِثْلَ لَهُ (رواه النسائى)

Abu Umamah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated, “I said, ‘O Rasulullah! Please command me to perform an act by which Allaah will benefit me!” Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Hold fast onto fasting, for there is nothing like it.” (Nasai)

COMMENTARY: Though common to all virtuous deeds like salaat, fasting, charity, hajj and service to mankind that these are the means and avenues to acquire the pleasure of Allaah, they also possess some individual properties and specialities which distinguish them from each other.

On that basis, it can be said about each of them that there is no action similar to it. For instance, where the disciplining of the self is concerned, it can be said that nothing can equal fasting. Thus, this hadith of Abu Umamah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu wherein Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “there is nothing like it,” should be understood in that light. Also remember that regarding Abu Umamah’s own circumstances, fasting was most beneficial. For this reason, Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam advised him in that line. In other narrations of this hadith, Abu Umamah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu after receiving this answer, asked a second and even a third time. Each time, Nabi SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam commanded him to fast stating that there is nothing similar to it. This means that the most benefit he would acquire was by fasting, keeping in mind his specific conditions. And Allaah Ta’ala knows best!

ZAKAAT OF THE BODY

عَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِكُلِّ شَيْئٍ زَكاةٌ وَزَكَاةُ الْجَسَدِ الصَّوْمُ (رواه ابن ماجة)

Abu Hurairah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “There is a zakaat of everything [which needs to be taken out to become clean], and the zakaat of the body is fasting.”  (Ibn Majah)