The essence of the Holy Hadith

Abu Hurairah (R.A.A.) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever does not give up lying speech – false statements (i.e. telling lies) and acting on those (lies), and evil actions etc, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i. e. Allah will not accept his fastingt)” (Bukhari)

The motivation of fasting
Dear readers, if the spirit of fasting is not observed then such fasting are only an exercise in starvation but not really a fasting at all. Allah does not intend to keep our stomachs empty for a certain number of hours, as the Prophet (SAW) said: “How many people observe fasting but gain nothing thereby except undergo hunger and thirst, and how many people spend nights standing in prayers, and yet all they is just the deprivation from rest.” Fasting teaches us self-control and motivates us to control our tongue and not speak lie as well as not do any evil action.

Fasting is a pure performance
In another Hadith our dearest Prophet (SAW) added, “By Him in whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person). ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The Saum is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.” (Bukhari)

It is clear that all the practices of worshipping are for Allah, here Allah singles out Saum (fasting), because fasting cannot be practiced for the sake of showing off, as nobody except Allah can know whether one is fasting or not. Therefore, fasting is a pure performance that cannot be blemished and marked with hypocrisy.

The reason behind the fasting
Fasting creates the habit of restraining the ‘self’ from its liking. When the habit of self denial develops, it will be easy to restrain the ‘self’ from those likings, which are unlawful in Islamic Shariah. The main reason behind the prescription of fasting is that the “haughty self” should be reformed and the performance of those injunctions that are heavy on the ‘self’ may become easy and the person may become pious.

Md. Moshiur Rahman

In the light of the Holy Quran

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. (Al Baqarah: 185)

The noble gift from Allah
It is worth meaning that fasting during the month of Ramadan has not only been declared an act of worship and dedication and a means to nourish godliness but has also been characterized as an act of gratefulness to Allah for His great bounty of true guidance in the fo9rm of the Quran. Undoubtedly, al Quran is the noble gift from Allah the Almighty for His servants. In fact, the best way of expressing gratitude for someone’s bounty is to prepare oneself, to the best of one’s ability. The noble Quran has been revealed so that we may know the way that leads to Allah’s pleasure, follow that way ourselves and direct the world along it.

Fasting is an act of moral training
Fasting is an excellent means by which to prepare ourselves for shouldering the task of calling people to the way of glorious Quran, which is a permanent torch for a traveler of the world. Al Quran invites peace loving people to accept Islam. Hence fasting dur8ing the month of the revelation of the Quran is more than an act of worship and more thank an excellent course of moral training. It is an appropriate from for the expression of our thankfulness to Allah for the bounty of the Quran.

Is fasting burden for us?
All the praises and thanks are to Allah. Who has prescribed for us an excellent worship as fasting, also provided alleviations and concessions in times of hardship and taught us the method of making up the loss when broken to our convenience. We have to understand the significance of fasting, without which it is like an empty shell without a heart. If we realize this, we shall look upon Ramadan, no as a burden but as a blessing, and shall be duly grateful for the lead given to us in this matter.