Benefits of fasting as mentioned in the Hadith

Some benefits of fasting as mentioned by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Every good deed of the progeny of Adam is given a reward of 10-fold to 700-fold, but the fast is such that Allah Ta’ala says: Fast is for Me and I only will give its reward.  A worshipper stays away from his or her desires and abandons eating and drinking for My sake.

 

Maulana Bahr Ul Uloom writes in Arkan that all the people of spiritual insight (Ahle Kashf) are in agreement that fasting is especially for Allah Ta’ala and its reward is the Lord Almighty Himself.  This means the vision of Allah Ta’ala, which the fasting person will have in Jannah.

 

Indeed! The smell from the mouth of the fasting person is more loved by Allah Ta’ala than the fragrance of musk.  Fast is a shield for safety from hell.  The fasting person should not speak indecently and should not argue/quarrel with anyone.  If someone does so, the fasting person should say: I am fasting.

 

A certain companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) thus: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! Please recommend a good deed (especially).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Make fasting compulsory for yourself.  There is no good deed equal to this.  The companion again requested: Recommend me a good deed.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) again said: Make fasting compulsory.  There is no good deed equal to this.  The companion again requested and again received the same reply.

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: If my Ummah get to know what Ramadhan is, they would wish that the whole year is Ramadhan.

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith that Ramadhan is the leader of all months.

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith that everything has its Zakaat (for purification) and the Zakaat of the body is fasting.

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith that the sleep of the fasting person is worship, their silence equal to Tasbeeh (praising Allah Ta’ala) and their prayers are all accepted.

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith that if someone misses a fast of Ramadhan without any reason, which the Shariah declares as valid, then even if that person fasts for the whole life, it cannot be made up for. (Meaning that that reward can never be gotten)

 

The companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would even make their small children fast.  Those who could not bear hunger, would start to cry.  A person was presented before Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) who had taken some intoxicant in Ramadhan.  Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: Woe to you! Even our children are fasting and gave him the punishment as prescribed by the Shariah.