In this article we will learn about fasting in Islam and Why do we fast? and why Allah Almighty imposed fasting on us, fasting as we know is abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse from sunrise until sunset, so what is the goal of that ?. This is what we will learn about.
Why do we fast?
On known days Allah imposed on us Fasting, as He imposed on us fasting the month called Ramadan, which is thirty days.
It is also permissible for us to fast Arafah day for non-pilgrims and it’s desirable to fast one tenth of dhu al-hijjah.
Some people also fast every Monday and Thursday of each week.
And some people increase to fast day yes and day no, which is the fasting of our master Dawood.
We are here talking about obligatory fasting, which is fasting Ramadan and why Allah imposed fasting on us.
Why should we fast?
We fast in obedience to Allah Almighty, the Almighty has said: “O you who believe, fasting is written on you as it was written on those before you, that you may be pious.”
We fast with desire to:
- Attainment of piety: The Almighty said: “O you who believe, fasting is written on you as it was written on those before you, that you may be pious”.
- Winning the reward of fasting, which is a great and double reward.
- The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam multiplies the good deeds tenfold to seven hundred folds. And Allah Almighty said:” Except fasting it’s mine and I reward for it”.
- Entering Paradise from Bab Al-Rayyan, which is the door of fasting people.
- The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “There is a door in Paradise named: Al-Rayyan, which those who fast will enter through on the Day of Resurrection and no one else will enter through it, if they entered it would be closed and no one entered after them”.
- Winning the two joys: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “The fasting person has two joys: if he breaks his fast and if he meets his Lord”.
This pushes us to fast and gain the satisfaction of Rahman, there are many other motivations and desires which we fast for.
Why did Allah impose on us fasting 30 days?
All the reasons mentioned above are the motivations of fasting hypothesis and we can add to them the following:
- The Messenger of Allah said: “who has The soul of Muhammad with his hand , the fasting person’s mouth is more pleasant to Allah than the smell of musk.”
- Khalouf is change of the smell of a person’s mouth due to fasting and it may be unpleasant to some, but it is better than musk with Allah Almighty.
- Obtaining the intercession of fasting on the Day of Resurrection.
- The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting and the Quran intercede for the servants on the Day of Resurrection fasting says: O Allah i prevent man to eat and drink during the day so you may intercede me for him and Quran says: O Allah i prevent him to sleep during the night so you may intercede me for him and they did”.
- Entering Paradise because of fasting.
- The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever says there is no god but Allah is sealed for him entering Paradise, whoever gives charity for the sake of Allah will be sealed for him entering Paradise and whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah will be sealed for him entering Paradise.”
- Getting closer to Allah Almighty thanks to obedience, which is fasting.
- Allah’s messenger said: “You must fast, it’s incomparable.
- Forgiveness of sins and atonement for bad deeds.
- The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and reckoning, his past sins will be forgiven.”
Why do we fast? What is the wisdom behind fasting?
We fast to thank and show love for Allah Almighty, as He blessed us with fasting to give the great reward that He allocated for Himself to us.
We fast for fear of hell and misery, as fasting distances us from fire.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “No slave fasts one day for the sake of Allah, unless Allah keeps seventy autumns away from his face on that day.”
What is the day of Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram month in the Islamic Hijri calendar, it is a day that carries many historical and religious events and Allah has saved Moses and his fellow believers on this day.
The virtue of fasting Ashura
- Out of love for Prophet Moses (peace be upon him): Following the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Prophet Moses used to fast on the day of Ashura as an expression of thanksgiving to Allah for saving bni israel from Pharaoh. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say: “We are more worthy for Moses than them” and he used to note the importance of fasting on the day of Ashura.
- The salvation of Noah (peace be upon him): Some Islamic narrations say that Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) and those with him on the ship survived on the day of Ashura, which makes it a day of thanksgiving and fasting.
- Fasting of atonement: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Fasting on day Arafa, I retake it upon Allah to erase sins of the year before and the year after, fasting on day Ashura, I retake it upon Allah to erase sins the year before.”
- Devoting oneself to worship and supplication: Fasting on day of Ashura is an opportunity for devoting oneself to worship, supplicate to Allah and prayer.
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And here we end dear children, we learned with you about fasting and why we fast? Why did Allah impose fasting and what is the purpose of that, fasting makes us feel for the poor and weak and give them charities and paying zakat.
