Some Virtues Of The Ramadhan

Some Virtues of the Ramadhan

Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Fawzan

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

A Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radiallāhu`anhu) that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

 "Every deed of the Son of Adam will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times its worth. Allāh, Mighty and Sublime, said: 'Except for the fast, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it. He leaves off his desires and his food for My sake. There are two times of joy for the one fasting. The time of joy when he breaks his fast and the time of joy when he meets His lord. And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the smell of musk.'"

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Four Virtues.

This Hadith substantiate the virtue of fasting and the great position it possesses in the sight of Allāh. Four of its many virtues occur in this hadith, and they are:

1. Reward in full without any reckoning.

Those who fast well will receive their reward in full without any reckoning; for every good deed is rewarded ten to seven hundred times it’s like in worth, except for the fast. Indeed, its reward is not limited to this number, but rather Allāh will reward it with manifold its likes in worth. This is because the fast is from (the forms of) patience and Allāh has stated:

"Verily, the patient ones will be given their reward in full without any reckoning."

 [Surah Az-Zumar: 15]

2. Indeed Allāh connected the fast to himself in conjunctive form, above all other types of deeds.

This conjunction is enough to show its noble status. Allāh knows best, it is due its state of encompassing the entirety of the day. One find that the individual fasting has neglected his desires, while his soul constantly yearns after them. Along with its length of the duration is not found in anything else besides the fast, especially in the days of summer due to their length and severity in heat. The individual's abandonment of the things he desires is an act of worship, which will be rewarded. The fast is something a secret kept between the servant and his Lord. No one knows of it except Allāh, the most High. It is an inward action, which cannot be seen by the creation, thus riya' (showing off) cannot enter into it.

3. When the one who fasts meets his Lord, he will be delighted by his fast due to what he will see in it from its abundance, good standing and his reward by having his fast accepted, which Allāh granted him in the first place.

As for his joy at the time when he breaks the fast, then it is due to the completion of the act of worship and its being free from evil and those things that have been forbidden in it. This is from the praiseworthy types of joy since it is a joy that emanates from the obedience to Allāh and the completion of the fast, due to which great reward has been promised. This is as Allāh says: "Say: By the grace and mercy of Allāh, and by that, then rejoice."

 [Surah Yunus: 85]

4. The breath coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk.

This beautiful smell will be for the Day of Judgment for that is the day when the rewards for deeds will be manifested. This is based on one narration of the hadith: "…more pleasant in the sight of Allāh on the Day of Judgment…"

 [Muslim]

"And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting when he breaths out from the food (he ate previously) is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the smell of musk"

 [Ibn Hibban and Ahmad]

This scent, although disliked by the people who smell it in this world will, however, be more pleasant in smell in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is because it is something that originates from the obedience to Allāh.

"The sign that will mark the believer on the Day of Judgment is the brightness (of their faces) due to their ablution (wudu') in this world, causing a distinction between them and the rest of the nations. And their mark on the Day of Judgment due to their fasting will be pleasant smelling breath, more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is in order that they may be known amidst that group for that deed. We ask Allāh to grant us blessing on that day."

 [Ibn Hibban]

And from the merits of Ramadhan is that Allāh has distinguished those who fast with a specific door from the doors of Paradise. No one more righteous than them will enter through it.

Sahal Ibn Sa'ad (radiallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily, there is a door in Paradise, which is known as Ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Judgment, the ones who fasted will enter in through it; no one other than them will enter in through it. And when they have entered, it will close, so no one will enter through it (after them)."

 [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"And whosoever enters will be given to drink. And whosoever drinks will never feel thirsty again."

 [Sahih of Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1903]

The Qualification of the Virtues

However, these merits will not be attained except by the one who fasts with sincerity by abstaining from food, drink, intercourse, abstaining from hearing the unlawful, looking towards the prohibited and earning from unlawful means. Thus his body limbs must fast and abstain from sinful acts. His tongue must fast and abstain from lying, foul speech and false swearing. This is the obligatory for the fast, the result of which will be great reward.

Abu Hurayrah (radiallāhu`anhu) said that the Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) of Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said:

"Whoever does not avoid false speech and acting on it, Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does not have any need for him to leave his food and drink".

 [Al-Bukhari]

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

 "Perhaps, that entire one who fasts will get from his fast is hunger and thirst. And perhaps that entire one who stands at night in prayer will get from his standing is sleeplessness."

 [Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah, Darami].

[Excerpt from Hadith As-Siyam: Ahkam wa Adab]

[Via Allahuakbar]