Fasting - An introduction

The fire of hell is forbidden for the person who feels happy on the coming of Ramadhan.  In this month, all the sins of the fasting person are washed away.  The sustenance (Rizq) of the fasting person is increased.  Eating, drinking, sleeping, everything is included in worship.  For small deeds, great reward is given.  The angels supplicate for the forgiveness of those who are fasting.  The devils are imprisoned.  There is an outpouring of Allah’s mercy.  The doors of Jannah are opened and the doors of hell are closed.  Most of all, Allah Ta’ala is pleased.

 

Fast is the thing which illuminates the heart.  By reducing sleep and consumption of food, a fast turns the barren lands of the Nafs (Self) and the thorny thickets of desires into a garden.  Fast is such a cheery wind, which grants eternal life to dead hearts and dreary souls.  This is such a sweeper, that using the broom of worship it sweeps away the flotsam and jetsam of sins from the vast spaces of the heart and soul.  When a slave closes the door of desires then the doors of the heart are opened.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) remained hungry His whole life.  What kind of lovers are people that you cannot fast for even a month through fasting and develop a resemblance to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Are lovers like this?  The least benefit of fasting is that the sins between one Ramadhan and another are forgiven.

 

Those who don’t fast think that those fast stay hungry and thirsty the whole day.  This belief of theirs is wrong.  They consider only bread and water as sustenance although there is spiritual sustenance as well, which is given to those who fast.  This is that sustenance, which was given to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when He would fast for 6, 6 days on end.  Instead of fasting, just stay hungry for a day, you will feel weakness, restlessness and you will not be able to stay patient.  On the other hand, while fasting, there will be no weakness, you will not feel hunger and will not feel any restlessness or impatience.  So why does all this happen when just staying hungry?  We learn from this that when we just stay hungry, spiritual sustenance is not given to us.  As the time of Iftaar draws near, spiritual sustenance is stopped, that is why we need physical sustenance.  What a pleasurable period is Ramadhan!  During the day spiritual sustenance and at night physical sustenance!

 

When those who are fasting have Iftaar, the mercy of Allah Ta’ala descends on them.

 

Translation of Hadith: The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  There are 2 joys for those who fast, one at the time of Iftaar and the second, when having the vision of Allah Ta’ala.

 

Just see the happiness of the fasting person at the time of Iftaar and ask the one who does not fast how regretful he (or she) feels at the time of Iftaar.  In Qiyamah, the greatest pleasure will be the pleasure of seeing Allah Ta’ala.  For those who get this ni’mah, in comparison to it, the whole world, nay the whole universe will be nothing.  Those who fast will enjoy this pleasure and those who don’t fast will be deprived of this.  The shame and embarrassment, which they will feel in their hearts then cannot be described by any tongue.

 

Fasting is the only means of intellectual, spiritual, moral and other forms of development.  Without this, true piety cannot be acquired.  Fasting is a furnace which separates the pure from the impure.

[Excerpted from Mawaaiz-e-Hasana, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 188/189]