As-salam Alaikum waramotullai, wa barakatuh!
The kindness of Allah cannot be overemphasised when one ponders on the blessings in the act of eating sahur during Ramadan. For almighty Allah (SWT), it is not enough blessings that He provides us with food on our table, but He further blesses anyone who wakes up in the first rays of dawn to eat the same food for sahur.
The Prophet (s.a.w) was reported by Anas to have said: “Eat something for sahur even if it is a date. For there is in it barakah.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Isn’t it great that Allah is rewarding us for eating?
The prophet taught his companions and by extension, every Muslims that they should begin their fasting by taking something. It does not necessarily have to be heavy meal. In fact, overeating negates the spirit of fasting. It is advised to wake in the pre-dawn period to appropriately kick-start fasting by eating sahur among other things. Eat moderately even as you remember those who could not afford a meal for that purpose.
Some people have asked whether there is need to wake up for sahur if one has nothing to eat. What is, however, appropriate is to wake up, carry out other activities of the Ramadan night and when it is time for sahur, get some water to drink. In it, there is barakah.
It should be noted that there is no sin in not waking up for sahur if it was not done on purpose, and the inability to take sahur does not vitiate fast.
Again, another common argument now is the appropriate time for sahur. Brethren, sahur is not breakfast and should not be treated in like manners. While breakfast is the dawn meal, sahur is pre-dawn meal.
Much as we know that the night is free for eating and drinking, Allah has described the time for the end of sahur as indicated in Quran 2 vs. 187: “...eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread.” The prophet also said: “Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum makes his call to prayer. He does not make it until the break of dawn.” (Al -Bukhari) Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man whose incident with the Prophet is the subject of Quran 80. The famous Bilal making his first, then Ibn Umm Maktum.
Ibn Umm Maktum making his last call to prayer before Subhi. We could discern from the above injunctions that in this part of the world, the break of dawn starts some minutes past five. Be that as it may, scholars have advised that sahur should be taken between 4:45 and 5:15am. Next time you are eating sahur, be rightly guided. RamadanKereem!
Showing posts with label Ramadan Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramadan Talk. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Illness and concessions for breaking fast
By Haroon Balogun
A minor headache for example with no other conditions may not in many instances constitute a situation where a person can use the flexibility of the injunction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be used as an excuse for not fasting.
Some of the conditions for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows:
Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed because of fasting.
Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes unbearable with fasting.
“The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point when he is unable to fast.
Rather our companions said: The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to bear.” (Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is no difference of opinion among us concerning that. (Al-Nawawi – Al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic illness that causes great pain and difficulty or that is unbearable. You cannot say because you want to keep the fast and cause great harm to yourself. It depends on the individual and the nature of illness. Almighty allah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His commandments.
‘A’ishah (r.t.a) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin. If it was a sin he would be the furthest away from it. (al-Bukhari (6786) and Muslim (2327)
Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or people who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states: “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184)
The concession on pregnant and nursing women is slightly different, if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they have to pay pack after delivery or when it is convenient for them before the next Ramadan. Most women mix up these issues and go on to feed the poor to replace their fast.
No sound Muslim is permanently exempted from fasting unless the aged and the terminally sick persons. The pregnant woman or nursing mother still have the opportunity to fast at a later date. Ibn ‘Abbas (r.t) said: Concession to feed the poor refers to old men and old women who cannot fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day. —– Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4505.
May Allah accept it and reward us abundantly.
A minor headache for example with no other conditions may not in many instances constitute a situation where a person can use the flexibility of the injunction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be used as an excuse for not fasting.
Some of the conditions for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows:
Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed because of fasting.
Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes unbearable with fasting.
“The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point when he is unable to fast.
Rather our companions said: The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to bear.” (Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is no difference of opinion among us concerning that. (Al-Nawawi – Al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic illness that causes great pain and difficulty or that is unbearable. You cannot say because you want to keep the fast and cause great harm to yourself. It depends on the individual and the nature of illness. Almighty allah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His commandments.
‘A’ishah (r.t.a) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin. If it was a sin he would be the furthest away from it. (al-Bukhari (6786) and Muslim (2327)
Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or people who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states: “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184)
The concession on pregnant and nursing women is slightly different, if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they have to pay pack after delivery or when it is convenient for them before the next Ramadan. Most women mix up these issues and go on to feed the poor to replace their fast.
No sound Muslim is permanently exempted from fasting unless the aged and the terminally sick persons. The pregnant woman or nursing mother still have the opportunity to fast at a later date. Ibn ‘Abbas (r.t) said: Concession to feed the poor refers to old men and old women who cannot fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day. —– Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4505.
May Allah accept it and reward us abundantly.
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Guiding your fast
By Haroon Balogun
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless.
Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of your inadequacies borne out of ignorance or sheer neglect.
Among the things that break fast other than eating and drinking are:
Injections that are given to replace food and drink is not aceptable. Other injections such as vaccinations do not break the fast, but to be on the safe side, they can be administered in the night after the dusk.
Essentially, all those with terminal illness are advised to leave out fasting pending the time they can pay back.
Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times to keep the person alive, in Ramadan and at other times.
[caption id="attachment_250767" align="alignnone" width="412"]
*Muslims at prayer[/caption]
Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadan with no valid excuse has committed a grave major sin (kafaarah), and has to repent and make up for that fast later on (sixty days of fasting consecutively). "If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink." (Reported by Bukhari).
If a Muslim breaks his fast with something haraam, it is not only a sin but it also vitiates the fast.
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger, may break their fast and should make it up later on. This applies in cases where someone is drowning, or when fires need to be put out. May Allah save us from such circumstances.
Whoever vomits inadvertently does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever does intentionally have to make up the fast.
Using siwaak, chewing stick or tooth brush does not break a fast but it must be done moderately so as not to gulp water or part of the siwaak during the process of washing the mouth. Again, it is also better not to use toothpaste and brush during the day, but to do it early in the morning.
Immersing oneself in water or bath-tub does not break fast. But swimming is disliked, because it might lead to gulping of water during swimming.
If a person breaks his fast, thinking that the sun has already set when it has not, he must make up the fast later on (according to the majority of scholars), because the principle is that it is still day, and a fact that is certain cannot be rejected in favour of something doubtful.
Essentially, the person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his emotionally and sexual desire and he must repel any bad thought that crept on his mind such as backbiting, lustful gazing, playing games and other unholy activities.
And above all, your heart and mind must be fasting. Because fast in its real sense, will not be complete unless thoughts, emotions, actions and all aspects of our lives become pure, clean and free from blemish.
Fasting from sunrise to sunset not only teaches us to control our unruly bodies, but it also helps us to think of others who are less fortunate than ourselves, and to give thanks to Allah for all the blessings we so often take for granted.
May Allah accept our fasting and reward us abundantly.
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless.
Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of your inadequacies borne out of ignorance or sheer neglect.
Among the things that break fast other than eating and drinking are:
Injections that are given to replace food and drink is not aceptable. Other injections such as vaccinations do not break the fast, but to be on the safe side, they can be administered in the night after the dusk.
Essentially, all those with terminal illness are advised to leave out fasting pending the time they can pay back.
Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times to keep the person alive, in Ramadan and at other times.
[caption id="attachment_250767" align="alignnone" width="412"]
*Muslims at prayer[/caption]Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadan with no valid excuse has committed a grave major sin (kafaarah), and has to repent and make up for that fast later on (sixty days of fasting consecutively). "If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink." (Reported by Bukhari).
If a Muslim breaks his fast with something haraam, it is not only a sin but it also vitiates the fast.
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger, may break their fast and should make it up later on. This applies in cases where someone is drowning, or when fires need to be put out. May Allah save us from such circumstances.
Whoever vomits inadvertently does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever does intentionally have to make up the fast.
Using siwaak, chewing stick or tooth brush does not break a fast but it must be done moderately so as not to gulp water or part of the siwaak during the process of washing the mouth. Again, it is also better not to use toothpaste and brush during the day, but to do it early in the morning.
Immersing oneself in water or bath-tub does not break fast. But swimming is disliked, because it might lead to gulping of water during swimming.
If a person breaks his fast, thinking that the sun has already set when it has not, he must make up the fast later on (according to the majority of scholars), because the principle is that it is still day, and a fact that is certain cannot be rejected in favour of something doubtful.
Essentially, the person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his emotionally and sexual desire and he must repel any bad thought that crept on his mind such as backbiting, lustful gazing, playing games and other unholy activities.
And above all, your heart and mind must be fasting. Because fast in its real sense, will not be complete unless thoughts, emotions, actions and all aspects of our lives become pure, clean and free from blemish.
Fasting from sunrise to sunset not only teaches us to control our unruly bodies, but it also helps us to think of others who are less fortunate than ourselves, and to give thanks to Allah for all the blessings we so often take for granted.
May Allah accept our fasting and reward us abundantly.
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Fasting as a ticket for divine honour
By Haroon Ishola Balogun
There is no doubt that the two features of fasting in Ramadan are mental and practical exercise. Many think the feelings of the pangs of hunger is more like a punishment to oneself, but even medical experts have confirmed the benefits of fasting to the body.
We are not going to be talking about medicine, but to explore the mercies of allah through Ramadan fasting. The mental and practical exercise of fasting are like the wings of a bird on which man flies through the heavenly space of spirituality in the month of Ramadan. This is not only our mental ability to decipher what is good and also recognise what is bad but also to deplore this mental abilities into use. Good enough, the Holy Quran which was also revealed in the month of Ramadan is a guide to mankind.
This means that in the month of Ramadan, one should get to know the Holy Quran better and, through the clearance of guidance, take a broader view of what is right and wrong. The Holy Quran says: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be guided. (against evil)." (2:183)
In this month, human beings are the guests of Allah and He has abundant blessings waiting to be dispersed to whoever seek Him in truth. The blessings are there but we have to be eligible for this divine honour. The Holy Quran says: "We purified him so that he could be saved." (91:9)
Aside of the fact that Allah has given man the power and insight to choose his course in life with some choosing the right path and some choosing the wrong path based on the extent and degree of their knowledge, yet, there is salvation for man. For salvation, man needs the purification of his soul in addition to knowledge and insight. Such purification is obtained by seeking forgiveness of Allah and turning away from bad deed. This is one of the things we stand to achieve during this Ramadan.
Man should not be a prisoner of his soul by enjoining himself unto evil. You should strive to come closer to Allah by avoiding worldly pleasures and strive to get nearer to Allah and Fasting is something that enhances this nearness. Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: "Fasting is prescribed for man to purify his soul." In Ramadan, the month of fasting, you become the guest of Allah, ready to receive His mercy. Do praise Him with devotion, He will answer all your prayers in this month. Fasting is the glad tidings of Allah's all-embracing mercy.
Prayer
“O Allah, on this day, grant me a share from Your mercy which is wide, guide me towards Your shining proofs, lead me to Your all encompassing pleasure, by Your love, O the hope of the desirous.” Ramadan Kareem.
There is no doubt that the two features of fasting in Ramadan are mental and practical exercise. Many think the feelings of the pangs of hunger is more like a punishment to oneself, but even medical experts have confirmed the benefits of fasting to the body.
We are not going to be talking about medicine, but to explore the mercies of allah through Ramadan fasting. The mental and practical exercise of fasting are like the wings of a bird on which man flies through the heavenly space of spirituality in the month of Ramadan. This is not only our mental ability to decipher what is good and also recognise what is bad but also to deplore this mental abilities into use. Good enough, the Holy Quran which was also revealed in the month of Ramadan is a guide to mankind.
This means that in the month of Ramadan, one should get to know the Holy Quran better and, through the clearance of guidance, take a broader view of what is right and wrong. The Holy Quran says: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be guided. (against evil)." (2:183)
In this month, human beings are the guests of Allah and He has abundant blessings waiting to be dispersed to whoever seek Him in truth. The blessings are there but we have to be eligible for this divine honour. The Holy Quran says: "We purified him so that he could be saved." (91:9)
Aside of the fact that Allah has given man the power and insight to choose his course in life with some choosing the right path and some choosing the wrong path based on the extent and degree of their knowledge, yet, there is salvation for man. For salvation, man needs the purification of his soul in addition to knowledge and insight. Such purification is obtained by seeking forgiveness of Allah and turning away from bad deed. This is one of the things we stand to achieve during this Ramadan.
Man should not be a prisoner of his soul by enjoining himself unto evil. You should strive to come closer to Allah by avoiding worldly pleasures and strive to get nearer to Allah and Fasting is something that enhances this nearness. Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: "Fasting is prescribed for man to purify his soul." In Ramadan, the month of fasting, you become the guest of Allah, ready to receive His mercy. Do praise Him with devotion, He will answer all your prayers in this month. Fasting is the glad tidings of Allah's all-embracing mercy.
Prayer
“O Allah, on this day, grant me a share from Your mercy which is wide, guide me towards Your shining proofs, lead me to Your all encompassing pleasure, by Your love, O the hope of the desirous.” Ramadan Kareem.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Day 2: Tarawih as part of Ramadan ibadah
As-salam Alaikum waramotullai, wa barakatuh
Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 10 rak’ah. While some schools say the prayers should be 20, some say 8 while some put it at 36. Without concerning ourselves with the details of these schools, suffice to say that Tarawih is a supererogatory prayer that is offered after Salat Isha’a during Ramadan.
Every activity in the month of Ramadan should be for seeking the blessings of Allah. Succintly put, the Tarawih is considered part of Ramadan. In the early days of Islam in Mecca, the companions of the Prophet and his successors used to make prolonged rak’ah during Ramadan.
So long that hey would take a rest after offering every four Rak'ah. The Rak’ah were done with the recitation of long surahs and after every four, they take a rest. This is how it came to be named Tarawih which means 'Rest prayer'. Again, the point of rest was also called Tarweehah.
Like in all other supererogatory prayers, Tarawih is meant to make up for our less perfect obligatory prayers in the month of Ramadan. Scholars say the essence is to make every part of our prayers become perfect, just like we were taught how to fast without blemish.
Our prayers are so important that it shall be our first account to be rendered before Allah. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, Abu-Dawud, An-Nisai and others, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: "The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the day of resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded; and if they are wanting, then he would have failed.
Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: "Whoever offers optional prayers like Tarawih prayers throughout the nights of Ramadan, believing in Allah and seeking His rewards, his previous sins will be forgiven."
Tarawih can be performed individually at home or at the mosque.
If for some reason you cannot go to the mosque, you can pray Tarawih at home.At this point, we should endeavour to observe Tarawih in the mosque behind Imam in congregation.
All ibadah in the month of Ramadan are huge in their rewards are great before Allah. Tarawih is one of them.
Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 10 rak’ah. While some schools say the prayers should be 20, some say 8 while some put it at 36. Without concerning ourselves with the details of these schools, suffice to say that Tarawih is a supererogatory prayer that is offered after Salat Isha’a during Ramadan.
Every activity in the month of Ramadan should be for seeking the blessings of Allah. Succintly put, the Tarawih is considered part of Ramadan. In the early days of Islam in Mecca, the companions of the Prophet and his successors used to make prolonged rak’ah during Ramadan.
So long that hey would take a rest after offering every four Rak'ah. The Rak’ah were done with the recitation of long surahs and after every four, they take a rest. This is how it came to be named Tarawih which means 'Rest prayer'. Again, the point of rest was also called Tarweehah.
Like in all other supererogatory prayers, Tarawih is meant to make up for our less perfect obligatory prayers in the month of Ramadan. Scholars say the essence is to make every part of our prayers become perfect, just like we were taught how to fast without blemish.
Our prayers are so important that it shall be our first account to be rendered before Allah. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi, Abu-Dawud, An-Nisai and others, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: "The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the day of resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded; and if they are wanting, then he would have failed.
Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: "Whoever offers optional prayers like Tarawih prayers throughout the nights of Ramadan, believing in Allah and seeking His rewards, his previous sins will be forgiven."
Tarawih can be performed individually at home or at the mosque.
If for some reason you cannot go to the mosque, you can pray Tarawih at home.At this point, we should endeavour to observe Tarawih in the mosque behind Imam in congregation.
All ibadah in the month of Ramadan are huge in their rewards are great before Allah. Tarawih is one of them.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Why fasting is prescribed unto you?
Glory be unto Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We thank Him for His grace and mercy having to witness another Ramadan. Whosoever Allah guides cannot be misled and whoseoever Allah misleads cannot be guided. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah with no associate and Muhammad is His prophet. May the peace and blessings continue to abide with Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
Allah has assigned to us the season of goodness in which the rewards for good deeds are not only in multiple folds but also the bad deeds are blooted out. In it, there are opportunities for repentance and forgiveness. Whoever uses the time to purify himself will be spiritually cleansed; he will attain success in this world and hereafter. That is one of the blessings of Allah in the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a pillar of Islam in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed. In the month, we have a night that is better than a thousand months. It means fasting in Ramadan is equvalent to fasting in 10 months. This is also not to mention the blooting out of sins of a repentant Muslim.
It is a period of worship during the day and better part of the night. We were created to worship Him alone. Obedience to His ordernances is as important as worshipping Him. One of the greatest act of worship is fasting in the month of Ramadan as He commanded us in Quran 2: 183-185.
But why do we have to fast? According to the above verses of the Qur’an, Allah enjoined us to fast so that we can gain piety (taqwa). Any one who is able to gain more taqwa will intensify in other acts of worship; will shun or think less of this material world; will always do what is good, kind to people irrespective of class or creed and will gain nearness to Allah. That is the quintessence of fasting.
In doing this, we also need to know what we should do and what we should refrain from in this glorious month.
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless. Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of ignorance or sheer negligence.
One of the virtues of fasting reported in an authentic hadith is that Allah has chosen for Himself and will reward without measure is fasting. “Except for fasting whihc is for my sake, I will reward greatly.” Fasting is one of the greatest deed Allah required from us even with promise that the supplication of a fasting person will not go unanswered.
The fasting person will also have the privileged of intercession by his fast on the day of judgement. A sahee hadith says: “O’ Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so, let me interceed for him.”
Fasting is also a strong protection and a fortress that keeps a person safe from hell fire. One hadiths clearly says that whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, allah will move his face from a distance of seventy years from fire.
Allah has assigned to us the season of goodness in which the rewards for good deeds are not only in multiple folds but also the bad deeds are blooted out. In it, there are opportunities for repentance and forgiveness. Whoever uses the time to purify himself will be spiritually cleansed; he will attain success in this world and hereafter. That is one of the blessings of Allah in the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a pillar of Islam in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed. In the month, we have a night that is better than a thousand months. It means fasting in Ramadan is equvalent to fasting in 10 months. This is also not to mention the blooting out of sins of a repentant Muslim.
It is a period of worship during the day and better part of the night. We were created to worship Him alone. Obedience to His ordernances is as important as worshipping Him. One of the greatest act of worship is fasting in the month of Ramadan as He commanded us in Quran 2: 183-185.
But why do we have to fast? According to the above verses of the Qur’an, Allah enjoined us to fast so that we can gain piety (taqwa). Any one who is able to gain more taqwa will intensify in other acts of worship; will shun or think less of this material world; will always do what is good, kind to people irrespective of class or creed and will gain nearness to Allah. That is the quintessence of fasting.
In doing this, we also need to know what we should do and what we should refrain from in this glorious month.
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless. Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of ignorance or sheer negligence.
One of the virtues of fasting reported in an authentic hadith is that Allah has chosen for Himself and will reward without measure is fasting. “Except for fasting whihc is for my sake, I will reward greatly.” Fasting is one of the greatest deed Allah required from us even with promise that the supplication of a fasting person will not go unanswered.
The fasting person will also have the privileged of intercession by his fast on the day of judgement. A sahee hadith says: “O’ Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so, let me interceed for him.”
Fasting is also a strong protection and a fortress that keeps a person safe from hell fire. One hadiths clearly says that whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, allah will move his face from a distance of seventy years from fire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)