That you may attain Taqwa…”
The month of Ramadan is distinguished by Sawm, or fasting. Allah says of this `ibadah:
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for
those before you that you may attain Taqwa” [2:183].
Taqwa is to be conscious of Allah (SWT) and acutely mindful of him, and
therefore afraid of offending Him. Since fasting is an act of worship which
continues over a whole day, and extends its effect throughout all of our
everyday activities and chores by stopping us from eating and drinking for the
sake of Allah (SWT); it makes us constantly aware of Him and our duty towards
Him. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) once said, “He who does not leave dishonest
speech and acting in accordance to it and (practicing) ignorance, Allah (SWT)
has no need for him to leave his food and drink” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]. This
is because while eating and drinking are forbidden during fasting, evil words
and deeds are always forbidden. If we fail to learn self-restraint from all that
Allah (SWT) has made Haram through the exercise of Sawm, our fasting is
meaningless. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) also said, “There is many a fasting person
who gets nothing from his fasting but hunger” [Narrated by Ibn Majah]. May Allah
(SWT) protect us all from this state.
“Only For Me…”
Sawm is unique among all acts of worship in that it is completely invisible. Abu
Umamah (RA) reports: “I came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and said: ‘Instruct
me of a deed that will enter me into Paradise.’ He said: ‘Hold firmly to
fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.’ Then I came to him again and he said:
‘Hold firmly to fasting’” [Narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Hibban and An-Nasa'i].
One reason for this is that while Salah, Zakah, and Hajj etc. can be seen by
others and so may be motivated – or to some degree contaminated – by making a
show (riya) of piety or some other worldly interest, fasting cannot really have
any other objective but seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT). A fasting person
can go around working through his usual commitments and no-one would know he was
fasting – in effect; it’s a silent secret between him and his Lord. The Prophet
(SAW) said, “Allah (SWT) says: Every deed that the son of Adam performs is for
himself except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward it.” [Narrated by
Al-Bukhari]. Another narration of this hadith goes on to say, “He leaves his
sexual desire and his food and drink for My sake! Fasting is a shield, and he
that fasts has two moments of joy: one at the time of breaking his fast, and the
other at the time when he will meet his Lord; and indeed, the smell of the mouth
of the fasting person is better with Allah (SWT) than the smell of musk.”
[Narrated by Bukhari].
Another version begins with the words, “Every action of the son of Adam is given
manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven
hundred times. Allah the Most High said: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me
and I will give reward for it…’” [Narrated by Muslim].
Acceptance of Du`a’
After performing good deeds generally, supplications are more likely to be
accepted. Fasting, however, is such a beloved act in the Eyes of Allah (SWT)
that He promises to accept a supplication made by one who has endured hunger for
His sake. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are
three people whose supplications are not rejected: the fasting person when he
breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the supplication of the oppressed”
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban].
`Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas (RA) also reported that the Messenger of Allah
(SAW) said: “Indeed there is for the fasting person when he breaks his fast a
supplication which is not rejected” [Narrated by Ibn Majah, al-Hakim and
others].
And if the above is true for the prayer of the one who has fasted, what about
the plea made by the act of fasting itself? `Abdullah ibn `Amr (RA) reported
that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The fast and the Qur’an are two
intercessors for the servant of Allah (SWT) on the Day of Resurrection. The fast
will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let
me intercede for him.’ The Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at
night. Let me intercede for him.’ And their intercession will be accepted”
[Ahmad].
Indeed, those who are blessed with the ability to fast frequently have a special
status before Allah (SWT). Sahl ibn Sa’d (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW)
said: “Verily, there is in Paradise a gate named Rayyan. Those who fast shall
enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and no-one else will enter through
it with them. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’, then they shall
enter it. When the last one of them has passed through the gate, it will be
locked and none shall be able to enter it thereafter” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].