Virtues Of Fasting

Clear and decisive verses in the Noble Quran encourage fasting as a means of seeking nearness to Allah the Mighty, and explain its virtues, such as the saying of Allah, the Most High:

“Verily, the Muslim men and women, the believing men and women, the men and women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient, the men and women who are humble (before their Lord), the men and the women who give charity, the men and women who fast, the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and women who remember Allah much. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)” Sooratul-Ahzaab (33):35

Fasting Is A Shield

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “ O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable then let him fast, because it is a shield for him” al-Bukhari and Muslim

He (peace be upon him) said: “There is not a servant who fasts a day in the way of Allah, except that Allah removes his face from the fire by the distance of 70 years because of that” al-Bukhari 6/35

He (peace be upon him) said: “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the fire” Ahmad 3/241,296

He (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will place between him and the fire a trench like that between the heavens and the earth” Tirmidhee 1624

Fasting Causes One To Enter Paradise

Aboo Umaamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said “ O Messenger Of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter paradise?, He (peace be upon him) said: “Take to fasting there is nothing like it” an-Nasaa’ee 4/165

The People Who Fast Are Rewarded With Immense Reward

Aboo Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “ Allah said that all of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except for fasting, for it is me and I will recompense it. Fasting is a shield and when it is the day when one of you fasts, then let him not speak indecently or argue, and if anyone abuses or seeks to fight to him then let him say “I am fasting”. By him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah then the smell of Musk. For the fasting person there are two times of joy; when he breaks his fast he is happy and when he meets his Lord he is happy, due to his fasting” al-Bukhari 4/118 and Muslim 1151

Fasting And The Quran Intercede For A Person

Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “ Fasting and the Quran intercede for the servant on the Day of Ressurection. Fasting will say; O my Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him, and the Quran will say; I prevented him from sleep at night so accept my intercession for him, so their intercession will be accepted.” Ahmad 6626

Fasting Is An Expiation For Various Sins

Among those virtues which are particular to fasting is that Allah has made it an expiation for:

1. Shaving the head whilst in a state of Ihraam for one who does that due to some illness

2. One who is unable to carryout to obligatory sacrifice

3. Accidently killing one of a people with whom you have a treaty

4. Hunting games whilst in a state of Ihraam

5. Violating an oath

6. Dhihaar ( the saying of the husband to his wife “you are to me like the back of my mother (ie unlawful for me)

From Hudhaifah ibn Al yamaan (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “ The evils caused for a man through his family, wealth and neighbour are expiated by prayer, fasting and charity” al-Bukhari 2/7 and Muslim 144

Ar-Rayyan Is For Those Who Fast

From Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called Ar-Rayyan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them and when they have entered, it is closed and no one enters it, (so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and who ever enters it drinks , and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty)” al-Bukhari 4/95 and Muslim 1152