Benefits of fasting

Hadith:  The reward of 1 good deed is given from 10 times to 700 times.  Allah Ta’ala says: Fast is for Me and I will myself give its reward.  That is why it is said there is no showing off in fasting.

 

Hadith:  If there are any rights of the people (Huquq Ul Ibaad) outstanding, then on the day of Qiyamah, the person to whom these rights are owed will take each and every virtue of that person.  When the fasts will come up, then Allah Ta’ala will say: Leave this good deed, because fasting is absolutely for Me.  Allah Ta’ala will then give reward to whom the rights are outstanding and satisfy them.

 

In the heavenly journey of Meraj, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw an angel who had 70,000 heads.  In each head, the angel had 70,000 tongues.  The beautiful voice of the angel’s Tasbeeh (praise of Allah Ta’ala) would move the ‘Arsh.  Its place is on the right side of ‘Arsh.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked: Who is this?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said: This angel is created only to make Tasbeeh and the reward of that Tasbeeh is given to those who fast in your Ummah.

 

Before that angel is a trunk, on which there is a lock of Noor.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked: Jibreel what is this?  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said: The angels write the freedom of your Ummah from hell and keep it in this box.  Congratulations to You and your Ummah.

 

Hadith:  When the Qiyamah is established, everybody will get up from their graves.  The warden of Jannah, Ridhwan, will be ordered: I have raised the fasting people from the graves.  They remained hungry and thirsty for My sake.  Don’t make them wait until they enter Jannah.  Le them take food here in the Qiyamah itself.  Then the moment Ridhwan calls out, innumerable Ghilman (the servants of Jannah) will gather.  They will bring fruits, food, sherbet, etc.  Ridhwan will serve each and every person and say:

 

‘Eat and drink rejoicing, in recompense of (your deeds) that you had sent forward during the days of your past (life).’  Surah Haqqah (69:24)

 

Thus, Allah Ta’ala does not simply order fasting.  He orders fasting and gives thousands of things with it.  If some unlucky person does not fast on this, then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says: Let him be dishonored, shamed and ruined.  The Companions asked: Who, O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The one to whom Ramadhan came and he does not value it and fails to get himself forgiven.

 

The biggest benefit of fasting is that the first sign of a true Muslim is gotten through the blessings of fasting.  To remove the rust from the heart and to check the self (Nafs) from its malice, fasting is a special prescription.  For this reason, while fasting, the thoughts of doing good deeds come.  No matter what kind of person it is, he (or she) does some kind of good deeds, provided the heart is not sealed up.  Otherwise, that person will neither fast nor be guided towards good.

 

Hadith:  When other people eat and drink in front of those who are fasting, then the angels perform Istighfaar for that person, i.e. they seek Allah’s forgiveness for that person and recite Durud and even the bones of the fasting person remain busy in Tasbeeh.