Fasting is considered one of the greatest acts of worship through which a servant draws closer to Allah SWT. This is because it involves abandoning all worldly desires and wishes, seeking only the pleasure of Allah. Fasting is distinguished as one of the most important reasons that lead to entering Paradise and being saved from the torment of Hellfire.
It also contributes to strengthening the determination of Muslims and enhancing their ability to struggle against themselves and control their desires. In this article, we will discuss in detail 10 importance of fasting in islam, in addition to the legal evidence that clearly indicates the obligation of fasting and its importance in the lives of Muslims.
What Is the Fasting in Islam?
Fasting is the fourth pillar of the great pillars of Islam. It is one of the venerable acts of worship that Muslims perform in compliance with the commands of Allah SWT. Fasting requires complete abstinence from eating, drinking, and all other nullifiers of fasting, from the break of dawn until sunset. Fasting is considered one of the most important acts of worship that Allah SWT has obligated on all capable Muslims, and He has made it one of the essential pillars without which a person’s Islam is not complete.
Fasting has numerous virtues and great advantages in Islam. It is a reason for forgiveness of sins and wrongdoings, acceptance of supplications, and facilitation of matters. The fasting person is rewarded for their fasting and is written for them the great multiplied reward. Through our review of 10 of the most important benefits of fasting in Islam, the greatness of this act of worship and its positive impact on the individual and society will become clear to us.
BOOK FREE SESSION
A topic you might find engaging: are sins multiplied in ramadan
What Is the Evidence for the Obligation of Fasting?
Islamic law is replete with many definitive evidences that confirms the obligation of fasting on Muslims and indicates its importance and high status in religion. Among the most prominent of that evidence are the following:
- His saying SWT also in Surat Al-Baqarah:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ”
Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū kutiba ‘alaykumus-siyāmu kamā kutiba ‘alalladhīna min qablikum la’allakum tattaqūn.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
- His saying SWT in Surat Al-Baqarah:
“شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ”
Shahru ramaḍānalladhī unzila fīhil-qur’ānu hudal linnāsi wa bayyinātim minal-hudā wal-furqān, faman shahida minkumush-shahra falyasumhu wa man kāna marīḍan aw ‘alā safarin fa’iddatum min ayyāmin ukhar, yurīdullāhu bikumul-yusra wa lā yurīdu bikumul-‘usra wa litukmilul-‘iddata wa litukabbirullāha ‘alā mā hadākum wa la’allakum tashkurūn.
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease, and does not intend for you hardship, and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”
- On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
“كلُّ عَمَلِ ابنِ آدمَ لَه إلَّا الصَّومَ، فإنَّهُ لي وأَنا أجزي بِه، ولَخُلوفُ فَمِ الصَّائمِ أطيبُ عندَ اللَّهِ من ريحِ المسكِ”
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for Me, and I will reward him for it.” And the unpleasant smell from the mouth of the fasting person is better to Allah than the fragrance of musk.”
- On the authority of Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: I came to the Messenger of Allah PBUH and said: Command me to do something that I may take from you. He said:
(عليك بالصوم، فإنه لا مثل له)
“Adhere to fasting, for there is nothing like it.”
- On the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah PBUH say:
(من صام يوماً في سبيل الله، باعد الله وجهه عن النار سبعين خريفاً)
On the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah PBUH say: “Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, Allah will distance his face from the Fire by seventy autumns.”
- The Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
(بُنِيَ الإسْلامُ علَى خَمْسٍ، شَهادَةِ أنْ لا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ، وأنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ ورَسولُهُ، وإقامِ الصَّلاةِ، وإيتاءِ الزَّكاةِ، وحَجِّ البَيْتِ، وصَوْمِ رَمَضانَ)
“Islam is built upon five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the Zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting Ramadan.”
- On the authority of Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
(إن رمضان شهر افترض الله صيامه، وإني سننت للمسلمين قيامه، فمن صامه وقامه خرج من الذنب كيوم ولدته أمه)
“Indeed, Ramadan is a month whose fasting Allah has made obligatory, and I have established its night prayers for the Muslims. Whoever fasts it and prays its night prayers will emerge from sin as on the day his mother bore him.”
An issue that could fascinate you: are good deeds multiplied in ramadan
BOOK FREE SESSION
10 importance of fasting in islam
Let us now learn about the 10 most prominent benefits and values that fasting achieves in Islam:
- Fasting contributes to strengthening willpower and determination in the soul and enhances the ability to control oneself. It also trains the Muslim to be patient and to possess control of matters in various aspects of their life.
- Fasting represents sincere compliance with the commands of Allah SWT and overcoming worldly desires and wishes, seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT and winning His Paradise and His pleasure.
- Fasting is considered one of the most important reasons that lead to the forgiveness of sins and misdeeds, as evidenced by what Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
(من قام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غُفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه)
“Whoever prays during Ramadan with faith and seeking its reward will have his past sins forgiven.”
- Fasting enhances the feeling for the poor, the needy, and those in need, which prompts a person to help them, sympathize with them, and alleviate their suffering, and provide a helping hand to them in various circumstances and times.
- Fasting helps to get rid of toxins accumulated in the body and prevent the risk of developing cancerous diseases. It also contributes to helping to lose excess weight and maintain body health.
- Fasting is considered one of the reasons that lead to deliverance from the Fire and salvation from its torment, as the Prophet PBUH said:
إذا كان أولُ ليلةٍ من رمضانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشياطينُ مَرَدَةُ الجِنِّ، وغُلِّقَتْ أبوابُ النارِ، فلم يُفْتَحْ منها بابٌ، وفُتِّحَتْ أبوابُ الجِنانِ فلم يُغْلَقْ منها بابٌ، ونادَى مُنادٍ يا باغِيَ الخيرِ أَقْبِلْ، ويا باغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ، وللهِ عُتَقاءُ من النارِ
“When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinn are chained up, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and not a single gate is left open. The gates of Paradise are opened, and not a single gate is left closed. A caller cries out: ‘O seeker of good, come forward! O seeker of evil, desist!’ And Allah has those whom He frees from the Fire.”
- The fasting person enjoys an answered prayer at the time of breaking their fast, as the Prophet PBUH said:
“ثلاثة لا ترد دعوتهم: الصائم حتى يفطر، والإمام العادل، ودعوة المظلوم يرفعها الله فوق الغمام”
Three people whose prayer is not rejected (by Allah) : A just ruler, a fasting person until he breaks his fast, and the prayer of an oppressed person which Allah raises above the clouds.
- Fasting intercedes for its observer on the Day of Judgment, as evidenced by the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
الصيام والقرآن يشفعان للعبد يوم القيامة، يقول الصيام: أي رب، منعته الطعام والشهوات بالنهار فشفعني فيه، ويقول القرآن: منعته النوم بالليل، فشفعني فيه، قال: فيشفعان
Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for the servant on the Day of Judgment. Fasting says: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so accept my intercession for him.’ And the Qur’an says: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night, so accept my intercession for him.’ He said: ‘So they will intercede.’
- The odor of the mouth of the fasting person is pleasant and desirable to Allah SWT like the fragrance of musk, as the Prophet PBUH said:
والذي نفس محمد بيده، لخلوف فم الصائم أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك
By Him in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of Saum (fasting) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
- Fasting is considered one of the reasons that lead to entering Paradise and enjoying its bliss, as evidenced by what Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet PBUH said:
“الصوم جنة يستجن بها العبد من النار”
“Fasting is a shield with which the servant protects himself from the Fire”
- Moreover, a gate in Paradise called Al-Rayyan has been allocated for those who fast, as evidenced by what was reported from the Prophet PBUH that he said:
“إن في الجنة بابا يقال له الريان، يدخل منه الصائمون يوم القيامة، لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم، يقال: أين الصائمون؟ فيقومون لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم، فإذا دخلوا أغلق فلم يدخل منه أحد”
“Indeed, in Paradise there is a gate called Al-Rayyan, through which those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one other than them will enter through it. It will be said: ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ So they will stand up, and no one other than them will enter through it. When they have entered, it will be closed, and no one other than them will enter through it.”
A subject that may captivate your attention: what is fasting in islamic religion
BOOK FREE SESSION
Situations in Which the Faster Shows Patience
The faster’s ability to be patient and endure is manifested in many situations and circumstances, most notably suppressing anger, forgiving others, and being tolerant with them. This is because fasting helps us to be patient, gentle, and tranquil, and makes us adhere to the piety of Allah SWT and monitor Him in secret and in public. The believer who suppresses his anger and controls his emotions has a great reward and a generous recompense with Allah SWT.
The faster is also required to have good character and commendable qualities and to guard his tongue from idle talk, obscene speech, insults, and curses. The Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
إذا أصبح أحدكم يومًا صائمًا فلا يرفث ولا يجهل، فإن امرؤ شاتمه أو قاتله فليقل: إني صائم.. إني صائم
“If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relations and noisy talk. If someone insults him or fights him, he must say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.”
Some may wonder about the wisdom of allocating fasting in the month of Ramadan. The answer is that fasting is an obligatory duty for every Muslim, male and female, and the wisdom behind it is to refine and purify the soul, and to accustom it to patience, endurance, and abandoning desires and pleasures, in compliance with the commands of Allah SWT and following the Sunnah of His Prophet PBUH.
An area that could draw your interest: can you brush your teeth while fasting in islam
Impact of Abstaining from Food and Drink in Appreciating Blessings
Abstaining from eating and drinking during fasting teaches a person the value and importance of the blessings of Allah SWT that He has bestowed upon us. Feeling hunger and thirst during fasting makes a person feel the suffering of the poor, the needy, and those in need, and prompts him to hasten to help them and provide assistance to them. It also teaches him to preserve the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon him and not to waste them or squander them.
Fasting the blessed month of Ramadan is obligatory for all capable Muslims. It does not only require abstaining from food and drink, but also requires fasting the heart and organs from everything that angers Allah SWT. Fasting has numerous virtues and great advantages, including expiation of sins and wrongdoings, increasing reward and recompense.
BOOK FREE SESSION
A matter worth exploring for you: can i break my fast after 12 pm in islam
Behaviors Should Be Avoided During Fasting
There are many behaviors and actions that the faster must avoid and stay away from during fasting, including:
- Excessive nervousness, anger, and agitation.
- Uttering bad and obscene words that are harmful to others.
- Complaining about thirst, hunger, fatigue, and exhaustion.
- Laziness and sluggishness in performing work, duties, and responsibilities.
- Wasting valuable time in front of the television screen watching series and non-purposeful programs.
- Wasting time on the Internet and social media in matters that are of no benefit.
- Extravagance and wastefulness in preparing food during Iftar and exceeding the reasonable limit.
- Sleeping for long periods during the day of Ramadan and wasting time in laziness and inactivity.
- Not being keen to perform prayers on time and neglecting other acts of worship.
- Not drinking enough water and fluids during the Iftar period, which leads to dehydration.
- Eating too many sweets and sugars, which leads to weight gain and damage to health.
- Ignoring the Suhoor meal and not eating it, which leads to feeling tired and exhausted during fasting.
Fasting is one of the most important acts of worship that Allah SWT has obligated on Muslims and has made upon it a great deal of reward and recompense. It also protects the Muslim from falling into desires and sins, teaches him patience and endurance, refines his soul, and elevates his spirit to the highest of the high, within the framework of understanding and comprehending 10 of the most important benefits of fasting in Islam.
BOOK FREE SESSION
A subject that could catch your attention: which 5 days are forbidden for fasting in islam
