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Fasting: Its Meaning and Virtues
Fasting
generally means "to abstain from something." For example,
a verse in the Qur'an reads: “I have vowed to the Merciful to
abstain-that is, from speaking.”
What
is meant here is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
intercourse from dawn until sunset with the explicit intention of
doing so (for the sake of Allah).
The
Virtues of Fasting
Abu
Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be
upon him, as saying: “Allah said: 'Every action of the son of
Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give
the reward for it.' The fast is a shield. If one is fasting, he
should not use foul language, raise his voice, or behave foolishly.
If someone reviles him or fights with him he should say, 'I am
fasting,' twice. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad,
the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better in the sight
of Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk. The one
who is fasting is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is
happy with it, and when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he
has fasted.” (Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa’i).
Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud, added in another version: "He leaves
his food, drink, and desires for My sake. His fasting is for Me...
I will give the reward for it, and for every good deed, he will
receive ten similar to it."
Sahl
ibn Sa`d reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, said: "There is a gate to Paradise that is called Ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: 'Where are those
who fasted?' When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it
will be locked." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
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