Fasting, like Salaat and Zakaat, is fundamental institution of Islam. The Fardh fasting is a practice of vital importance. Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states in the Noble Qur’aan, “O people of Imaan! Fasting has been decreed compulsory for you.” (Baqarah verse 183)

 The importance of fasting is abundantly established by numerous narrations of the Qur’aan and Hadith.

Abu Umaamah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that he asked Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam to impose on him some deed of great significance. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Adopt fasting, for there is no act greater than it.” Abu Ummaamah RadhiAllaahu Anhu repeated his request a second time. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam again advised him to adopt fasting. Abu Ummaamah RadhiAllaahu Anhu put forward his request again, a third time, and Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Adopt fasting, for there is no deed equal to it.” (Nasai no. 2223, Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1893)

The superiority of fasting is in relation to certain special characteristics of fasting such as degree of sincerity, efficacy in strengthening weak Imaan, inculcating love and fear of Allaah and its acting as a barrier against sin. These special benefits of fasting are attainable only if one fasts consciously and observes the respects and rights of fasting.

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Allaah has made four actions compulsory in Islam. If a person practices on three, they will not avail him, unless he practises on all four. They are salaah, zakaah, fasting in Ramadhaan and performing Hajj.” (Musnad Ahmad no. 17789)

It is clear from the above that for attaining salvation, Salaat, Zakaat and Hajj are not sufficient. It is essential to fast the Fardh fasts of Ramadhaan.

Great benefits have been mentioned in the Qur’aan and Ahaadith for fasting:

1.) STRENGHTENING OF IMAAN

Hadrat Thanwi Rahimahullaah writes, “Fasting is distinguished from other acts of ibaadat by its concealed nature, whereas other acts of ibaadat, e.g. Salaat, Zakaat, Hajj, are visible in varying degrees. Fasting is totally concealed. Only Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo is aware if one is fasting or not.

Only those who truly have the love or fear of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo in their hearts will fast. Experience proves that weakness in love and fear for Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo could be remedied by engaging in such acts which produce Muhabbat (love) and Azamat (respect honour and awe).

Fasting is greatly beneficial in this regard. Thus weakness in one’s Imaan and love for Allaah is strengthened by fasting. One in whose heart the love and fear of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo become embedded, will be strong and steadfast on the Deen. The natural effect of fasting is to produce strength in one’s Deen.

This effect is referred to in the following two hadith:

1. Abu Hurairah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo said, “All good deeds are for the one who renders them but fasting. Fasting is exclusively for Me (Allaah).” (Bukhaari no. 5927)

2. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo said, “The one who fasts, abstains from eating, drinking and sexual relations for My Sake.” (Bukhaari no. 1894)

 Another narration states that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo says, “He leaves his food for My sake, he leaves his drink for My sake, he leaves his pleasure for My sake, and he stays away from his wife for My sake (in other words, he does not fulfil his desires with her.)” (Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1897).

Fasting being exclusively for the sake of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo reflects the high degree of sincerity underlying the act of ibaadat. The high degree of sincerity coupled with abstention from evil and futility produce glitter and strength in the Imaan of the fasting person. Great emphasis is therefore laid on fasting. This is very clear from the fact that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo described the act of man’s fasting as being only for Him (Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo).” (Hayaatul-Muslimeen – chapter on fasting)

2.) TAQWA

If one fasts in the correct manner, taqwa will be attained. If taqwa is attained, one will be blessed with innumerable bounties in this world and the hereafter.

A few bounties - mentioned in the Qur’aan - to be received in this world are:

a.) Sustenance from unimagined sources

b.) Easiness in one’s work

c.) Exit from problems

d.) Increased reward in one’s actions

e.) Forgiveness of sins 

f.) Safety from the plots of enemies

3.) PROTECTIVE SHIELD AND FORTRESS (FROM SINS)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Fasting is a shield and a strong fort (to save a person) from the Fire.” (Ahmad no. 9224, Shuabul-Imaan no. 3293)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam addressed two persons saying, "You should fast because fasting is a shield in order to save oneself from hell and in order to save oneself from the difficulties of time.” (Kanzul-Ummal no.23603 quoting from Ibn-Najjar)  In other words, one will be saved from hell and also from the difficulties and calamities of this world.

4.) PURIFICATION OF THE BODY
Abu Hurairah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Everything has a zakaat and the zakaat of the body is fasting.” (Abu Dawood no. 1746, Shuabul-Imaan no. 3300)

Like wealth is purified by means of paying Zakaat, the body is purified by means of fasting. Zakaat is the elimination of impurities from wealth while fasting is the elimination of impurities from the body. And the role of fasting as indicated already, operates in both the physical and spiritual spheres of man’s life.

5.) CAUSE OF GOOD HEALTH
Abu Hurairah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Fast regularly; and you will remain healthy.” (Al-Mu’jamul-Awsat no. 8312)

Fasting produces both physical and spiritual health.

Like fasting is a shield of protection against internal (spiritual) diseases, viz., sins, so too, is it a protection against external sicknesses, i.e. physical illness. In the majority of cases, physical sickness is the result of excessive eating. This cause is prevented by fasting.

6.) SPIRITUAL JOY
Fasting produces spiritual peace and exhilaration. Abu Hurairah RadhiAllaahu Anhu in a lengthy hadith, narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The fasting person experiences two (occasions of) delights: At the time of iftaar and at the time when he will meet his Rabb. The smell which emanates from the mouth of a fasting person is more beloved in the sight of Allaah than the fragrance of musk.” (Bukhaari no. 7492)

7.) FORGIVENESS OF SINS

In a lengthy verse, Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo says, “For the fasting man and for fasting woman … Allaah has prepared a great reward and forgiveness.” (Surah Ahzaab verse 35)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Whoever fasts in Ramadhaan with imaan and ihtisaab, all his past (minor) sins are forgiven.” (Bukhaari no. 38)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Allaah has ordained fasting in Ramadhan compulsory, and I have decreed (by the command of Allaah) wakefulness at night (i.e. Taraaweeh, etc.) Sunnat. “Whoever fasts in Ramadhan and stays awake at night (i.e. for Taraweeh) with Imaan and ihtisaab (believing it to be a command of Allaah and keeping in mind the rewards) emerges from sin, purified as the day when his mother gave birth to him.” (Nasa’i no. 2210)

Note: During the month of Ramadhan an additional ibaadat, viz., Taraaweeh Salaat, has also been decreed. The performance of Taraweeh is Sunnatul Muakkadah which is an act, the performance of which is obligatory although it may be omitted for a valid Shar’ee reason. One who is neglectful of Sunnatul Muakkadah is guilty of sin and is termed in the Shariah a ‘faasiq.’ Taraweeh reduces sleep to some extent. Sleep is an act highly pleasing and loved by the nafs.

Hence, by means of Taraaweeh Salaat one strives against the nafs and in so doing the nafs is disciplined. This ibaadat of Taraweeh is an act which is greatly efficient in the spiritual training of the nafs. During the month of Ramadhan, Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo has united two great and highly efficacious spiritual exercises in the form of fasting and Taraaweeh Salaat.

8.) INTERCESSION

Abdullah Bin Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Fasting and the Qur’aan will intercede on behalf of one on the Day of Qiyaamah. The Fast will proclaim, ‘O Allaah! I prevented him from eating and carnal desire. Therefore, for my sake accept my intercession on his behalf.’ The Qur’aan will proclaim, ‘I prevented him from sleep. Therefore, intercession of both will be accepted.” (Musnad Ahmad no. 6626, Al-Mu’jamul-Kabeer no. 14672, Mustadrak of Haakim no. 2036)

9.) PALACE IN JANNAH

Abu Saeed Khudri RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The Doors of the Heavens are opened up on the first night of Ramadhan. Not a single Door (among the Doors of Heavens) is then closed until the last night of Ramadhan. For every Salaat performed (this refers to Taraaweeh Salaat) during the nights of Ramadhaan, Allaah records one and a half thousand good deeds for every Sajdah (of that Salaat). And, for the fasting person, Allaah creates in Jannat a mansion of red Ya’koot (a precious stone in Jannat). This mansion will have seven thousand entrances. (So huge will be these entrances that in each entrance will be located) a palace of gold adorned with red Ya’koot.

When the Muslim fasts the first day of Ramadhaan, Allaah forgives all his sins committed from the first of the previous Ramadhan. Daily (i.e. during Ramadhan) from the time of Fajr Salat until sunset, seventy thousands angels supplicate for his forgiveness. In return for every Sajdah which he (the fasting person) makes of any Salaat, whether during the day or night, he will obtain (such a wonderful) tree so huge) that a horseman will take five hundred years to pass under its shade.” (Shuabul-Imaan no. 3362)

10.) LIMITLESS REWARDS

Ibn Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates, in a lengthy hadith, that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Fasting is exclusively for Allaah, the reward of it (being limitless) no one knows besides Allaah.” (Shuabul-Imaan no. 3317, Tabaraani in Awsat no. 865)

Salmaan RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that during the last Jumu’ah of the month of Shaʿbaan, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam recited a Khutbah in which he said, “O People! An auspicious month has dawned over you. In that month is a night which is superior to a thousand months (i.e. ibaadat in this night is superior to the ibaadat rendered in a thousand months.)

Allaah has made compulsory fasting in this month and has decreed fasting in this month and has decreed wakefulness at night (i.e. Tarawaeeh Salaat) Sunnat. A Nafl (non-obligatory or optional) act rendered in this month for attaining proximity to Allaah, is equal to a Fardh act rendered in other months.

A Fardh act rendered in this month is equal to seventy Fardh acts of other months. Whoever gives to a fasting person something for iftaar, his sins will be forgiven and he will be saved from Jahannum: he obtains as much thawaab as the fasting person (to whom he had given something for iftaar) while the thawaab of the person is not reduced in any way.”

The people asked, ‘O Rasulullah! All of us do not have the means to give something for the iftaar to another. (They were at the time under the impression that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam referred to a full meal.)

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “This thawaab is even for the man who gives another a date, a drink of water or milk (for iftaar)” (Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1887)

11.) ACCEPTANCE OF DUAAS

Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “There are three people whose du’aas are not rejected; the fasting person until he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the du’aa of the oppressed which Allaah lifts above the clouds and for which He opens the doors of the heavens. Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo says, “I take an oath by My Honour, I will definitely assist you, even though it may be after some time.” (Tirmidhi no. 3598)