Lesson Seven

Fasting And Taraweeh A Source Of Forgiveness

عَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قاَلَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ اِيْمَانًا وَّاِحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ اِيْمَانًا وَّاِحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ اِيْمَانًا وَّاِحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“All the previous sins of the servant will be forgiven who will keep the fasts of Ramadaan with imaan and ihtisaab [i.e. with belief in Allaah and expectation of acquiring divine recompense].  All the previous sins of the servant will be forgiven who will offer nawafil [i.e. taraweeh and tahajjud] in the nights of Ramadaan with imaan and ihtisaab. All the previous sins of the servant will be forgiven who will engage in worship in Laylatul- Qadr with imaan and ihtisaab.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

COMMENTARY: In this hadith, fasting in Ramadaan and engaging in nafl salaat at night, more-so, the night of Qadr, has been described as a definite cause of forgiveness. However, the condition is that these actions must be performed with imaan and ihtisaab. These are two special deeni technical terms. It means that whatever action a person performs, the basis and cause should be belief in Allaah, conviction in his promises and warning, and hope in the rewards he has informed us. No other object should be the motivation behind his action. Due to this imaan and ihtisaab, our actions become connected to Allaah Ta’ala. In fact, this imaan and ihtisaab is the heart and soul of our actions. If they are not present, huge actions will be lifeless and hollow, which, Allaah forbid, will prove to be fake currency on the Day of Judgement. On the other hand, one action performed with this quality is so valuable in the court of Allaah that due to its blessings, thousands of years of sins can be forgiven. May Allaah Ta’ala grant us these qualities through His grace!   

Intercession By Fasting And The Qur’an

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَقُوْلُ الصِّيَامُ اَىْ رَبِّ اِنِّىْ مَنْعَتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِىْ فِيْهِ وَيَقُوْلُ الْقُرْآنُ مَنْعَتُهُ النَّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِىْ فِيْهِ فَيُشَفَّعَانِ   (رواه البيهقى فى شعب الايمان)

Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Fasting and the Qur’an will both intercede on behalf of the servant [who fasted during the day and recited or listened attentively to the recital of the Qur’an in the night, standing before Allaah.] 
The fast will say, “My Lord! I had held him back from food, drink, and sexual satisfaction during the day. Accept my intercession for him [today and treat him with mercy and forgiveness].”
The Qur’an will say, “I kept him back from taking rest and sleeping in the night. Accept my intercession for him [today and treat him with mercy and forgiveness].”
The intercession of both the fast and the Qur’an will be accepted for the servant, [and he will be treated with exceptional kindness.] (Bayhaqi in Shuabul-Imaan)

COMMENTARY: How very fortunate are the slaves of Allaah Ta’ala for whom there will be such intercession! What an occasion of happiness won’t it be! May Allaah Ta’ala include us sinners amongst them, only by His grace!