Blessings of Fasting and Ramadhaan

By Ahmad H. Sakr, Ph.D.

Foundation for Islamic Knowledge

Blessings of Fasting

The benefits of the month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadan to be throughout the whole year. These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who are to fast with full faith and expectation.

These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadan have been grouped and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary. It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Qur'an and Hadith.

The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadan:

Taqwa: This concept may mean the following complementary descriptions:

Fearing Allah (SWT) Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)

Accepting the little things that one has achieved

Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter

Self-discipline

Self-control

Self-restraint

Self-education

Self-evaluation

By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.

Protection:

This idea is to mean the following complementary explanations:

Avoiding Immorality

Avoiding outcry/uproar

Avoiding stupidity

Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram

By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human being in the society.

Revelation of Qur'an:

The Qur'an was revealed during the month of Ramadan. The Qur'an is meant to be:

A Guidance to mankind

A Manifestation of right from wrong

A Summation, purification and culmination of all previous revelations

A Glad-tiding to the believers

A Healer

A Mercy

Doors of heaven are open

Doors of hell are closed Devils are chained down

Fasting with iman (faith) and expectation:Such type of intention leads to forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual's sins.

Door of Rayyan:There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyaan. It is for the fasting Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadan are the ones to enjoy the bliss of Paradise inside that area.

Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast.

These are:

When breaking fast

When meeting Allah (SWT)

Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the smell of musk during the day of judgement

Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers are to be stopped during fasting.

Ramadan-Ramadan: Whoever fasts two consecutive fastings of Ramadan with good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the year. Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good =10x, 70x, 700x or more during the month of Ramadan.

Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes care of the hungry, needy, during Ramadan will receive equal rewards to the fasting person(s).

Fasting Muslims are in Good When They:

Hasten their Iftar

Delay their Sahoor

Blessings of Sahoor (The Afternight Breakfast):

Night Prayers

Zikr, Remembrance,

Contemplation

Recitation of Qur'an

Food for Sahoor

Fajr Salat in Jamaat

Du'a' of Fajr

Taraweeh Prayers: Whoever performs the Taraweeh prayers with sincerity and good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.

Shafa'at (Pleading One's Case for Forgiveness):

Whoever fasts Ramadan will receive the Shafa'at of:

Ramadan

Qur'an

Ihya' (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadan. When a Muslim makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of blessings.

Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan will get:

Blessings and rewards

Peace of mind

Contemplation and evaluation

Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:

Forgiveness of mistakes

Better than 1,000 months

Du'a'

Zikr

Prayers

Reading Qura'n

Rewards Blessings

Better human being

Generosity:

Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadan.

Sadaqatul Fitr (Charity During Fasting): The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

Purity

Feeding the needy

Sharing happiness

Improving human relations

Improving society

Zakat (Religious Tax Payment): The benefits of paying Zakat are many. These are summarized as follows:

Purity

Flourishing of wealth

Improving economy

Circulation of wealth

Elimination of inflation

Elimination of poverty

Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

Purification of body from toxins

Reducing of weight

Purity of brain

Rejuvenation of body

Living of life with happiness

Looking younger

Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

Sharing-Living: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

Eid-Ul Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.

Du'a' for the deceased

Preparing oneself for departure from this world

Feeling respect for the deceased

Making the person to be humble in his life

Du'a' at Iftar is Accepted by ALLAH (SWT): The supplication of a fasting person is accepted by Allah (SWT) at Iftar time.

'Umrah in Ramadan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadan is: Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage) Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)

Successes in Ramadan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during the month of fasting, among which are the following:

Battle of Badr

Battle of Khandaq

Opening of Makkah

Battle of Tabuk

Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe

Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders

Egypt and Israel, 1973--Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadan

By Ahmad H. Sakr, Ph.D.
Foundation for Islamic Knowledge