Assalamu alaikum wa rohmatullohi wa barokatuh. Bismillah Walhamdulillah wa solatu wassalamu ‘ala rosulillah wa ‘ala alihiy wa sahbihi wa man wala
15 benefits & rewards (why you should keep fasting voluntarily)
- It’s Sunnah - that should be enough.
Yaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo, kutiba ‘alaikumus Siyaamu kamaa kutiba ‘alal lazeena min qablikum la’allakum tattaqoon (Baqarah, 183)
Oh, you, believers. Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you can gain God-consciousness, taqwa.
The marks of righteousness, the best of the righteous was thier siyam and qiyam (their Fasting and their Prayer)
The best fasting is the fasting of Dauwood (a.s)
“Kaana yasumu yawman, wa yuftiru yawma”
(He used to fast one day and then break his fast the next day, so he used to fast alternate days)
Our beloved prophet (s.a.w) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and he used to fast the middle three days of every month which are white days because the moon is fullest in the 13th 14th and 15th of every lunear month.
Abu Huraira (r.a) said: My beloved one (the Prophet s.a.w) advised me with 3 things:
• to fast 3 days of every month
• to pray the two rak’ahs of Duha
• to pray Witr before going to sleep
You first and foremost, it’s Sunnah - you’re following the way of the Prophet (s.a.w) and you’re following the way of the prophets and the most righteous of the nations that came before you.
- Your day starts with Allah and angels sending their prayers upon you (it’s before you even start your fasting)
The Prophet s.a.w said: “Innalloha wa malaikatahu yu solluna alal mutasakhirin”
That verily Allah and his angels pray upon those who eat suhoor
• Allah and the angels are sending prayers upon you as you’re eating to prepare yourself for the day of fasting.
- Your day ends with an accepted du’a
The Prophet s.a.w mentioned that of the categories of people that have their du’a answered, he said - fasting person until they break their fast
In the one narration, the Prophet s.a.w said: “Innal soyimi ‘inda fitrihi la da’watan maturot” - that verily the fasting person at the time of breaking their fast has a du’a that will not be rejected.
- Even your breath is pleasing to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
The Prophet s.a.w said: I swear by the one in whose hand is my soul, the smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant in the sight of Allah on the day of Judgment than the scent of musk
So if your breath is pleasing to Allah, what about the rest of you?! SubhanAllah
- You’ll meet Allah with a lifetime of fasting / lifetime of pleasing Him
The Prophet s.a.w mentioned to us famously that whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with 6days of Shawwal, it says if they fast the entire year
In another narration the Prophet s.a.w said “Whoever fasts 3days of the month - Kana kasiyamin dzahr - it says if they fasted an entire lifetime”
Scholars say: this is any 3days
- Fasting is good for your health
Sumu, tasihhu - Fast and you will be healthy (hadith’s chain is weak, but the meaning is sahih, authentic)
- Fasting disciplines your desires
The Prophet s.a.w, when he said: Oh young people! If you’re able to get married, then do so. If you’re not able to get married, then - he said, a person should