My dear brothers and sisters do you know the reward a fasting person receives? Do you know how special a fasting person is, in Allah’s sight? Well, apart from receiving good deeds through fasting, there’s more which Allah has kept in store
for us believers who fast with our hearts just to gain His love.
Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: “Every deed of the Son of Adam will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times its worth. Allah, Mighty and Sublime, said: ‘Except for the fast, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it. He leaves off his desires and his food for My sake. There are two times of joy for the one fasting. The time of joy when he breaks his fast and the time of joy when he meets His lord. And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk.’” [al-Bukhari (4/103) and Muslim (1151)]
This hadith is proof for the virtue of fasting and the great station it possesses in the sight of Allah. Four of its many virtues occur in this hadith, and they are:
>>First: Those who fast will receive their reward in full without any reckoning, for every good deed is rewarded ten to seven hundred times it’s like in worth, except for the fast. Indeed, its reward is not limited to this number, but rather Allah will reward it with various its likes in worth. This is because the fast is from (the forms of) patience and Allah has stated:
“Verily, the patient ones will be given their reward in full without any reckoning.” [Surah az-Zumar 39: 15]
>>Second: Indeed Allah connected the fast to Himself in conjunctive form, above all other types of deeds. And this conjunction is enough to show its noble status. Thus, one can find that the individual fasting has neglected his desires, while his soul constantly yearns after them. This, along with its lengthened duration, is not found in anything else besides the fast, especially in the days of summer due to their length and severity in heat. The individual’s abandonment of the things he desires is an act of worship, which will be rewarded. This is because the fast is a secret kept between the servant and his Lord. No one knows of it except Allah, the most High. It is an inward (hidden) action, which cannot be seen by the creation, thus riyaa’ (showing off) cannot enter into it.
>>Third: When the one who fasts meets his Lord, he will be delighted by his fast due to what he will see in it from its abundance, good standing and his reward by having his fast accepted, which Allah granted him in the first place.
As for his joy at the time when he breaks the fast, then it is due to the completion of the act of worship and its being free from evil and those things that have been forbidden in it. This is from the praiseworthy types of joy since it is a joy that comes from the obedience to Allah and the completion of the fast, due to which great reward has been promised.
This is as Allah says: “Say: By the grace and mercy of Allah, and by that, then rejoice.” [Surah Yoonus 10: 85]
>>Fourth: The breath coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the scent of musk. This beautiful smell will be for the Day of Judgment for that is the day when the rewards for deeds will be manifested. This is based on one narration of the hadith: { Muslim 2/807, no. 1151 (Book of Fasting, no. 163)}
“And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting when he breaths out from the food (he ate previously) is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk” {This has been reported by Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh (8/210) with an authentic chain as well as was stated by Ahmad in Fath al-Baari (4/106) }
This scent, although disliked by the people who smell it in this world will, however, be more pleasant in smell in the sight of Allah than the scent of musk. This is because it is something that originates from the obedience to Allah.
And from the merits of Ramadan is that Allah has distinguished those who fast with a specific door from the doors of Paradise. No one more righteous than them will enter through it.
Sahl Ibn Sa’ad (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily, there is a door in Paradise, which is known as Ar-Rayyaan. On the Day of Judgement, the ones who fasted will enter in through it; no one other than them will enter in through it. And when they have entered, it will close, so no one will enter through it (after them).” [al-Bukhari (4/111) and Muslim (1152)]
And in addition to the wording: “And whosoever enters will be given to drink. And whosoever drinks will never feel thirsty again.” [Saheeh of Ibn Khuzaimah (no. 1903)]
However, these merits will not be attained except by the one who fasts with sincerity by abstaining from food, drink, intercourse, abstaining from hearing the unlawful, looking towards the prohibited and earning from unlawful means. Thus his body limbs must fast and abstain from sinful acts. His tongue must fast and abstain from lying, foul speech and false swearing. This is the legislated fast, the result of which will be great reward. And if this is not so, then the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said:
“Whosoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, then Allah has no need for him to abandon his food and drink.” [al-Bukhari (10/473)]
And Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Perhaps there may be a fasting person who gets nothing more from his fast than hunger and thirst, and there may be a person who prays qiyaam (night prayer) and all he gets from his qiyaam is a sleepless night.” {Narrated by Ahmad (8693); classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibban (8/257) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb (1/262)}
** The reason for this is that one who does these things does not fulfill the purpose of fasting which Allah has made obligatory on us. Fasting is not just the abandonment of food and drink only or it is not just the standing up for the night prayers only. Rather it also means abandoning improper statements, sins and actions that are forbidden in Islam.**
O Allah, safeguard for us our fasts. And help us in (keeping) it upon your obedience and keep us away from sinful ways. And forgive us and our parents and all the Muslims. And May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our prophet Muhammad.
