Benefits of fasting

Virtues of Ramadaan Ahmadu Bello Dogarawa PhD The benefits of Ramadaan are too many to be counted. The Qur’aan indicated that it is a means of attaining Taqwa, through fearing of Allah (the Most High), practising the revelations of Allah, accepting the little things that one has achieved, preparing for departure from this world to […]

Virtues of Ramadaan

Ahmadu Bello Dogarawa PhD

The benefits of Ramadaan are too many to be counted. The Qur’aan indicated that it is a means of attaining Taqwa, through fearing of Allah (the Most High), practising the revelations of Allah, accepting the little things that one has achieved, preparing for departure from this world to the hereafter, self-discipline, self-control, self-restraint, self-education and self-evaluation. Ramadaan is the month in which the Qur’aan was revealed as guidance to mankind; a manifestation of right from wrong; a summation, purification and culmination of all previous revelations; a glad-tiding to the believers; a healer and a mercy. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told us that gates to Hellfire are locked, gates to Paradise are opened and the Devils are chained in this blessed month [Bukhari and Muslim] to avail the servant of Allah the opportunity to do more good and shun evil.

Different authentic Hadith confirmed that fasting protects its observer from immorality, uproar and stupidity [Bukhari and Muslim]; protects from hellfire [Bukhari and Muslim]; enters its observer into paradise [Nasaa’i; Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim]; causes the face of its observer to be removed from fire seventy years further for every fast [Ahmad]; and intercedes for its observer in the day of reckoning [Ahmad and Haakim]. In addition, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whosoever fast Ramadaan with faith and seeking reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven [Bukhari and Muslim] and shall be raised in the company of the righteous ones and those that attained martyrdom [Ibn Hibbaan].

The month of Ramadan is a school of eemaan and a ‘stop to recharge one’s spiritual batteries’ in order to acquire one’s provision for the rest of the year. The noble month is truly a school of transformation in which the Muslims change their actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Shari’ah of Allah (the Most High). Fasting in this blessed month is therefore a great act of worship that the Muslim performs by neglecting his desires to seek the pleasure of Allah and to hope for reward from Him.

As the days of Ramadan pass, the fasting Muslim should evaluate himself to know whether or not he has achieved the objective of Ramadan fasting. He should make sure he learns the lessons contained in Ramadan. According to a pamphlet titled Wa maadhaa ba`da Ramadaan’ published by Daar al-Wataan and the book ‘Ahaadeeth as-Siyaam: Ahkaam wa Aadab’ written by Saalih Fauzaan, from the many important lessons to be learnt from Ramadan fast are:

Gaining Taqwaa

The first most important lessons of Ramadan fasting is gaining taqwaa. Allah (the Most High) says: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain taqwaa” [Q2:183]. According to scholars, taqwaa is depicted in the fear of Allah (the Most High), practising the revelations of Allah, accepting the little things that one has achieved, preparing for departure from this world to the hereafter, self-discipline, self-control, self-restraint, self-education and self-evaluation. No doubt, fasting is a means of attaining taqwaa, since it helps prevent one from committing many sins that one is prone to. Due to this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting is a shield with which the servant protects himself from the Fire” [Bukhari and Muslim]. After each day of fasting, we should ask ourselves: has this fasting made us more fearful and obedient to Allah? Has it aided us in distancing ourselves from sins and disobedience?

Seeking Nearness to Allah

Ramadan fast is a means to seek nearness to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah said: Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the obligatory duties that I have placed upon him…” [Bukhari]. Drawing closer to Allah (the Most High) in the blessed month of Ramadan can be achieved by fulfilling one’s obligatory duties; and also reciting the Qur’an and reflecting upon its meanings; increasing in kindness and in giving charity; making du`aa (supplication) to Allah; attending the tarawih Prayer; seeking Laylatul-Qadr; attending gatherings of knowledge; making I`itikaaf; and striving in those actions that will cause the heart to draw closer to Allah and to gain His forgiveness. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “Whosoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven, and so enters the fire, then may Allah distance him” [Ahmad and Baihaqee].

Acquiring Patience

Fasting is a means of learning self-restraint and patience. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The month of Patience and the three days of every month are times for fasting” [Ahmad and Nasaa’ee].  In at-Tamheed, Ibn `Abdul-Barr said: “What is meant by the month of Patience is the month of Ramadan. Fasting is called patience because it restrains the soul from eating, drinking, conjugal relations and sexual desires”. With patience, the Muslims are able to strengthen their resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity, and also cope with life’s ups and downs; perform the daily Prayers calmly and correctly, without being hasty, and without merely pecking the ground several times; and restrain their souls from greed and stinginess and thus give part of their surplus wealth in Zakah.

Cultivating Good Manners

The blessed month of Ramadan teaches us not only to abstain from food and drink, but to also abstain from such statements and actions that may be the cause of harming people and violating their rights. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whosoever does not abandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah the Mighty has no need that he should leave his food and drink” [Bukhari]. He also said: “Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting [Ibn Khuzaimah and Hakim]. It is upon us as individuals, to examine the shortcomings in our character, and to then seek to improve them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I am a guarantor for a house on the outskirts of Paradise for whoever leaves off arguing, even if he is in right; and a house in the centre of Paradise for whosoever abandons falsehood, even when joking; and a house in the upper-most of Paradise for whosoever makes his character good” [Abu Daawud and Baihaqee].

Sensing Muslim Unity

In the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims sense an increased feeling of unity and of being a single Ummah due to their fasting and breaking their fast collectively. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fast when they fast, and break your fast when they break their fast, and sacrifice the day they sacrifice” [Tirmidhee].  Islaam lays great importance in bringing hearts together and encouraging collectiveness. This is not only reflected in the month of Ramadaan, but also in the other acts of worship as well. Ramadaan is a time to increase our sense of unity and brotherhood, and our commitment to Allah and His Religion.

To achieve the object of Ramadan fast and to benefit from the important and practical lessons of Ramadan, the Muslim needs to be loyal to his fast. Loyalty to one’s fasting requires knowledge and application of the dos and don’ts of fasting in order to make one’s fasting correct and to ensure blissful and joyful Ramadan for him.

May Allah (the Most High) grant us the blessing of Ramadaan and give us the full reward of fasting its days and spending its nights in worship.

Dogarawa, PhD is of  Department of Accounting Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria +2348026499981 [email protected]

Read Dr Dogarawa on the dos and don’ts of the Ramadan fasting in our next edition.

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