Why must Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan?
In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful Assalamu Alaikum! All praise is due to Almighty Allah for keeping us alive to witness another Ramadan. Insha Allah, as in previous years, Ramadan Talk will focus on the significance and practices prescribed for all Muslims during the month. It will also bring out the benefits […]
In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful
Assalamu Alaikum!
All praise is due to Almighty Allah for keeping us alive to witness another Ramadan. Insha Allah, as in previous years, Ramadan Talk will focus on the significance and practices prescribed for all Muslims during the month. It will also bring out the benefits that are derivable from the month for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Qur’an and Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would be our guiding principles for this column.
Month of Ramadan
The Islamic month of obligatory fasting is known as Ramadan. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is obligatory for all adult Muslims, who are in good mental and physical health who are not on a journey.
What is Ramadan fasting?
Ramadan fasting is one of the three categories of obligatory fasting. Islamic fasting connotes abstention from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset. It must be preceded by the avowed intention (niyya) to worship Allah as He directed His Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is adjudged obligatory on account of Allah’s directive in Chapter 2, verse 183 of the Holy Qur’an that all those who believe in Him should fast as prescribed for the preceding generation. Allah in that verse says that fasting makes believers pious.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in the Sunnah that Islam is built on five pillars. According to Bukhari, he mentioned fasting in the month of Ramadan as one of the pillars.
Intention (Niyya)
Niyya is an obligatory pillar in fasting. It induces the heart to focus on Ramadan fasting immediately one sees the new moon or a trustworthy source announces the sighting. Fasting without niyya is null and void. Niyya must be made before dawn after the sighting of the new moon.
The onset of Ramadan is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon or completion of thirty days of Sha’aban, the eight month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Whoever sees the crescent of the new moon or hears about it from a trustworthy source is obliged to begin fasting. Using the calendar to determine or calculate the onset of Ramadan is not permissible.
Muslim reported in a Hadith that Allah enjoins all who believe in Him and the message of His Prophet (pbuh) to “fast when you see the new moon and end your fast when you see it.” This means that sighting of a new moon ushers in the Ramadan fasting and ends it for the Eid-el-fitr celebration.
The individual must not see the new moon himself. It suffices for any adult, sane and trustworthy Muslim with good eyesight to announce seeing the new crescent with his own eyes. The word of such a person is enough to kick start the fasting.
Ramadan virtues
As reported by Bukhari in a Hadith, Allah says that all other deeds of mankind are for themselves, but that fasting is for Him and He will reward it without measure.
Fasting as an act of worship has no equal in the worship of Allah. As reported by Nasa’I in a Hadith, Allah says that “fasting is mine and has no equal in my sight. I am the only one to reward it.”
Supplications offered at sunset after breaking the fast are not rejected by Allah. Baihaqi reported in a Hadith that the du’a (supplication) of a person fasting will not be refused.
As reported by Muslim, the fasting person has two moments of joy: one is when he/she breaks the fast and the other is when he/she rejoices over his fasting in the hereafter.
Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of Judgment. Ahmad reported in a Hadith that fasting will say to Allah, “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.”
The unpleasant body odour of a fasting person is considered a blessing. Ahmad reported in a Hadith that the odour from the mouth of a fasting person is a strong fortress that keeps the person safe from fire.
Muslims reported that whoever fast one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove his face a distance of seventy light years from hell fire.
Muslim also reported in a Hadith that whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah by fasting for one day will enter Paradise if that day should prove to be the last of his life.
Bukhari reported in a Hadith that there is a gate called al-Rayyaan through which only those that fast will enter Paradise. The gate will be locked after them, as no one else is permitted to enter through it.
“The night that is better than a thousand nights” is in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. The Holy Qur’an was revealed during this night (Lailatul Qadr).
Bukhari reported that when Ramadan begins the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of hell closed, and the devils are put in chains.
Ramadan fasting, as reported by Ahmad, is equivalent to ten month’s fasting. This means that the rewards of fasting during Ramadan are equivalent to those of fasting during ten other months.
Ramadan fast, as reported by Bukhari, attracts Allah’s forgiveness of previous sins. As a Hadith says, all previous sins of whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and with the hope of rewards will be forgiven.
Ahmad reported that Allah frees those that fast from hell fire and a Hadith says: “At the breaking of every fast, Allah chooses people to free from hell fire.”
Though the above-listed virtues are by no means exhaustive, they indicate what benefits could be derived by fasting if performed for the sake of Allah alone and according to the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Next week insha Allah, we shall look at the benefits to be derived from fasting during Ramadan in particular.
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Bissalam.