{"id":2769,"date":"2014-07-14T09:24:13","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T13:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/?p=2769"},"modified":"2014-07-14T09:24:13","modified_gmt":"2014-07-14T13:24:13","slug":"objectives-fasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/?p=2769","title":{"rendered":"The Objectives of Fasting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Objectives of Fasting\"download<\/a><\/strong>
\nBy Shaykh al-\u2019Izz al-Deen ibn \u2018Abd al-Sal\u00e2m (ra)
\nA partial translation of Maqasid al-Sawm
\nThe Obligation of Fasting
\nAll\u00e2h, Exalted is He says,
\n\u201cO you who have faith! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you \u2013 so that hopefully you will have taqw\u00e2.\u201d [al-Baqarah (2): 183]
\nMeaning that hopefully you can safeguard yourselves from the Fire through fasting; fasting is a means to the forgiveness of sins, and sins lead one to the Fire.
\nThe Two Sah\u00eehs record the had\u00eeth in which the Prophet (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cIsl\u00e2m is built upon five: that you worship All\u00e2h and reject the worship of anything else, to establish the prayer, the giving of zak\u00e2t, performing pilgrimage to the House and fasting the month of Ramad\u00e2n.\u201d [This is a wording of Muslim, Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee has the first sentence as ‘that you testify that none has the right to be worshipped save All\u00e2h’].
\nThe Virtues of Fasting
\nFasting carries with it a number of benefits, amongst which are:
\n1. the elevation of ones rank,
\n2. the expiation of sins,
\n3. the breaking of ones desires and lusts,
\n4. the increase of charity,
\n5. the multiplication of actions of obedience to All\u00e2h,
\n6. giving thanks to the One who knows the hidden matters, and
\n7. preventing oneself from even contemplating the committing of sin.
\n1. The Elevation of Rank
\nWith regards the elevation of rank, the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cWhen Ramad\u00e2n comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are locked and the devils are chained.\u201d [Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) also said, relating from His Lord, Mighty and Magnificent,
\n\u201cAll of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except the fast for that is for Me and I will reward it. Fasting is protecting shield, so when it is the day when one of you are fasting, let him not behave or speak indecently; if someone tries to abuse or fight him, let him say, \u2018I am fasting\u2019. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with All\u00e2h then the smell of musk. The one fasting has two time of joy, when he breaks his fast he is happy and when He meets his Lord he will rejoice at his fasting.\u201d [Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) also said,
\n\u201cEvery action that the son of Adam does, [its reward] will be multiplied, a good deed will be increased tenfold up to seven-hundred fold. All\u00e2h, Mighty and Magnificent, says, \u2018except for the fast, for that is for Me and I will reward it for he left his desires and food for My sake.\u2019 \u201d [Muslim]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cIn paradise there is a gate which is called ar-Rayy\u00e2n through which the people who fasted will enter on the Day of Judgment, and no one else shall enter alongside them. It will be asked, \u2018where are those who fasted?\u2019 and they will walk through it, and upon the entry of the last of them, it will be locked, and no one else will walk through it.\u201d[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nIn another version the wording is,
\n\u201cThere is in Paradise a gate that is called ar-Rayy\u00e2n, those who fasted will be summoned to it and whoever fasted will enter through it, and whoever enters it will never again experience thirst.\u201d[at-Tirmidh\u00ee and an-Nas\u00e2’\u00ee]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cWhen people eat in the presence of a fasting person, the Angels invoke blessings upon him, until they finish.\u201d[Ahmad and at-Tirmidh\u00ee]
\nWith regards the\u2019opening of the gates of Paradise\u2019, this is a phrase that points to the increase of actions of obedience that in turn lead to the opening of the gates of Paradise. \u2018Locking the gates of the Fire\u2019 is a phrase that points to the decrease, and lack of therewith, of sins which in turn leads to the locking of the gates of the Fire. \u2018The chaining of the devils\u2019 is a phrase that points to the termination of their whisperings, and temptations, to those who are fasting because they give up hope of receiving a favorable response.
\nHis saying, \u201d All of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except the fast for that is for Me and I will reward it,\u201d fasting has been specifically adjoined to Him in order to honour it because the hidden nature of fasting prevents ostentation entering it, and moreover, hunger and thirst are not used as means to draw closer to any king of this world nor any idol.
\nHis saying, \u201d And I will reward it,\u201d even though He rewards all actions of obedience, this phrase points to the greatness of the reward of fasting.
\nHis saying, \u201d Fasting is a protecting shield \u201d means that fasting serves as barrier erected between the person and the punishment of All\u00e2h.
\nHis saying, \u201d let him say, \u2018I am fasting,\u2019 \u201d means let him remind himself that he is fasting so that this would serve to prevent him from repaying like with like.
\nHis saying, \u201d The smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with All\u00e2h then the smell of musk,\u201d meaning that the reward for the smell emanating from the mouth of the fasting person is better with All\u00e2h than the smell of musk. [This explanation is a point of some difference and was the cause of a famous debate between ibn as-Sal\u00e2h and the author, may All\u00e2h have mercy on both.]
\nAs for the two times of joy, the first is because the one fasting has been granted the divine accord to complete this act of worship and the second is because of the reward he will attain when All\u00e2h rewards him.
\nHis saying, \u201d He left his desires and food for My sake \u201d meaning that he chose the obedience of his Lord over the obedience of the call of his soul, whoever chooses All\u00e2h, All\u00e2h chooses him. This is why when someone desires to commit a sin, then leaves committing it for fear of All\u00e2h, He says to the recording Angels, \u2018Record it as a good deed, for he only left giving in to his lusts for My sake.\u2019
\nWith regards their being specified to enter Paradise through the gate of ar-Rayy\u00e2n, this specification is because of the greatness of this act of fasting and its unique character.
\nWith regards the Angels invoking blessings upon the one fasting, in whose presence food is eaten, this is because on such an occasion he has to exert himself more in fighting his desire to eat. Their invoking blessings upon him is a phrase denoting their asking for his forgiveness and mercy to be bestowed him.
\n2. The Expiation of Sins
\nWith regards the expiation of sins, the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cOne Ramad\u00e2n to the next serves as an expiation for what is done between them, so long as the major sins are avoided.\u201d[Muslim]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) also said,
\n\u201cWhoever fasts the month of Ramad\u00e2n, out of faith and expectant of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven him.\u201d[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\n3. The Breaking of Ones Desires and Lusts
\nHunger and thirst break the desire to commit sin, it is authentically reported from him (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) that he said,
\n\u201cO gathering of youth! Whoever can afford it, let him marry for this is better in aiding one to lower his gaze and preserving the private parts. Whoever is not able, let him fast for this will diminish his desire.\u201d [Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nIt is mentioned in a had\u00eeth,
\n\u201cSatan flows through the son of \u0622dam as does his blood\u201d
\nso constrain the passages of Satan through hunger.[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim. The last sentence is the statement of one of the narrators of the had\u00eeth mistakenly added into the main text.]
\n4. Increase of Charity
\nWhen the one fasting feels the pangs of hunger, he takes this as a reminder to feed others who are hungry, \u2018for the only one who feels compassion towards the lovers is one who has loved.\u2019It has reached us that Sulaym\u00e2n, or Y\u00fbsuf (\u2018alayhis-sal\u00e2m) would not eat until all his dependants had first eaten and when asked why this was so, he said, \u2018I fear that I would become full and so forget the hungry.\u2019
\n5. Increase of Actions of Obedience
\nThe one fasting will be reminded of the hunger and thirst that the denizens of Hell will experience and this will encourage him to obey All\u00e2h so as to be saved from that fate.
\n6. Giving Thanks to the One Who Knows the Hidden Matters
\nThe one fasting comes to truly appreciate the favours of All\u00e2h, it is only through knowing hunger and thirst that one truly appreciates satiation and the quenching of that thirst; it is only when blessings are absent that one appreciates them more.
\n7. Preventing Oneself from Contemplating Sin
\nWhen one is full, the soul craves sin and looks longingly at all sorts of transgression, but when one is hungry, the soul craves food and drink, and this is the better of the two without doubt. If is for this reason that one of the Salaf thought fasting to be the best of all actions of worship and when asked why he replied,
\n\u2018That All\u00e2h look to me in a state where my soul is fighting me for food and drink is more beloved to me than All\u00e2h looking at me in a state where my soul is full and fighting me for sin.\u2019
\nOther Benefits of Fasting & Helping Others in Opening the Fast
\nFasting has many more benefits, such as refining the mind and strengthening the body, it is mentioned in a had\u00eeth, \u201d Fast for you will become healthy.\u201d [at-Tabar\u00e2n\u00ee and its isn\u00e2d is da’\u00eef]
\nFrom the greatness of fasting is that the whoever cause a fasting person to open fast, he has the same reward as the one who fasted. He (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cWhoever provides food for a person to open the fast, he will have the likes of his reward, without the reward of the fasting person decreasing in the slightest.\u201d [Ahmad and at-Tirmidh\u00ee]
\nSo whoever provides food for thirty six fasting people in one year, it will be as if he fasted for the whole year. And whoever provides food for many fasting people with this intention, All\u00e2h will record for him the fasting of many years. [Because a good deed is multiplied ten-fold]
\nThe Mannerisms of Fasting
\nThey are six:
\nRestraining the tongue and limbs from all that opposes the Divine Law (Shar\u00ee\u2019ah).
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) saying,
\n\u201cwhoever does not leave false speech and acting upon it, All\u00e2h has no need of his leaving food and drink.\u201d
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) also said,
\n\u201cit is possible that one standing [in prayer] only attain weariness from his standing and the one fasting only attain hunger and thirst from his fasting.\u201d
\n[Ahmad, al-‘Ir\u00e2q\u00ee said the isn\u00e2d was hasan.]
\nIf one is invited to eat while he is fasting, let him say, \u2018I am fasting\u2019
\nThe Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cif one of you is invited to eat while fasting, let him say, \u2018I am fasting\u2019 \u201c
\n[Muslim]
\nWhat should be said when one breaks the fast.
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) used to say upon breaking fast,
\n\u201cthe thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain if All\u00e2h wills.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd and ad-D\u00e2ruqutn\u00ee said its isn\u00e2d was hasan].
\nDhahaba adh-Dhama\u2019u wa-btallati-l-\u2019uruq wa thabata al-ajru inshaAll\u00e2h
\nIt is also reported that he said,
\n\u201cO All\u00e2h! It is for you that I have fasted, and it is with your provision that I have broken fast.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd with a weak isn\u00e2d, however A. al-Arna’ut, Jami’ al-Usul, said that it has witnesses that strengthen it.]
\nIn another had\u00eeth, it is reported that he said,
\n\u201call praise and thanks are due to All\u00e2h who gave me the strength to fast and who gave me the provisions with which to break fast.\u201d
\n[al-Bayhaq\u00ee with a weak isn\u00e2d but it has witnesses that strengthen it.]
\nWhat the fast should be broken with.
\nThe fast should be broken with fresh dates, or slightly older, drier, dates, or water. It is reported that he ( sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would break fast with
\n\u201cfresh dates before praying; and if not then with older, drier, dates; and if not with dates then with some mouthfuls of water.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb Daw\u00fbd with a hasan isn\u00e2d]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cif one of you is fasting then let him break fast with dates, if he does not find any then with water for it is pure and purifying.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd with a sah\u00eeh isn\u00e2d]
\nHastening the ift\u00e2r (breaking of fast) and [the 6th] delaying the suh\u00fbr (pre-dawn meal)
\nThe Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201ctake the meal of suh\u00fbr for indeed in the suh\u00fbr lies blessings.\u201d
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cthe people will not cease to be upon good so long as they hasten in breaking the fast.\u201d
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cAll\u00e2h, Mighty and Magnificent, says, \u2018the most beloved of My servants are those who are quickest in breaking fast.\u2019 \u201c
\n[Ahmad with a weak isn\u00e2d but it has witnesses that strengthen in, Jami’ al-Us\u00fbl]
\nHe (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said,
\n\u201cthis religion will remain good and pure so long as the people hasten in breaking the fast for the Jews and Christians would delay it.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd with a sah\u00eeh isn\u00e2d]
\n\u2018Amr bin Maym\u00fbn said,
\n\u2018the Companions of the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would be the quickest of people in breaking the fast and the slowest of them in taking the pre-dawn meal.\u2019
\n[al-Bayhaq\u00ee]
\nThe suh\u00fbr is delayed so as to strengthen one more while he is fasting so that he can perform more actions of obedience, the gap between the Messenger of All\u00e2h ( sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) taking the suh\u00fbr and his prayer would be an interval allowing fifty verses of the Qur\u2019\u00e2n to be recited.
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nThe ift\u00e2r was hastened because it is possible that some physical harm arise from hunger and thirst, hence there is no need to put the soul through such difficulty in a time [after the time of breaking fast] in which hunger and thirst is no longer an action that would draw one closer to All\u00e2h. One of the wealthier people amongst the Salaf was seen eating in the market place and when asked why he replied [by quoting the had\u00eeth],
\n\u2018the delay of the rich is oppression.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nWhat Should be Avoided While Fasting
\nContinuous fasting.
\nAb\u00fb Hurayrah said,
\n\u2018the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) prohibited continuous fasting whereupon one of the Muslims asked him, \u201cbut you do it O Messenger of All\u00e2h!\u201d He replied, \u201cwho amongst you is like me? I spend the night with my Lord, He giving me food and drink.\u201d But when the people persisted in fasting continuously, he fasted continuously with them for a day, followed by another until they saw the new moon upon which he said, \u201cif the moon had delayed in appearing I would have made you fast more.\u201d This was a punishment for them because they refused to stop continuously fasting.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nContinuous fasting was prohibited because it weakens the person and emaciates his body by reason of something other than worship. As for the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) then if it is literally true that his food and drink was with his Lord, he cannot be said to have fasted continuously; but if \u2018food and drink\u2019 is a phrase used to denote the strength of his closeness and communion ( uns) with his Lord and the joy he felt at this closeness, then this takes the place of food and drink in revitalizing his strength, indeed this uns is better than food and drink in this respect,
\nIndeed I fasted from worldly pleasures my entire life
\nAnd the Day that I meet you will be its breaking
\nFor surely I find the delight of fasting for You within my soul
\nAnd not in the satisfaction of eating or drinking
\nKissing
\n\u2018A\u2018ishah (radiyAll\u00e2hu \u2018anh\u00e2) said
\n\u2018The Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would kiss and embrace while fasting but he was more able than you in restraining his desires.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee and Muslim]
\nTherefore whoever is old, able to control his desires and hence not ruin his fast, there is no harm in his kissing. If one is young and not sure that he can control his desires, it is disliked for him to kiss due to his subjecting his action of worship to the danger of something that could break it.
\nCupping
\nIt is authentically reported that the Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) was cupped while fasting. [Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee] Anas was asked,
\n\u2018did you consider cupping to be disliked for the one fasting?\u2019 He replied, \u2018no, [we only considered it disliked] if it caused weakness.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u00e2r\u00ee]
\nHence whoever is physically weakened by cupping, it is disliked for him to do so, because in his weakened state he is more likely to break fast or find the action of fasting extremely difficult for him and hence become averse to it.
\nApplying Kohl
\nAnas would apply Kohl while fasting.
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd and ibn Hajr said the isn\u00e2d had no fault.]
\nal-A\u2019mash said,
\n\u2018I never saw any of our companions disliking the application of Kohl for the one fasting.\u2019 Ibr\u00e2h\u00eem [an-Nakha’\u00ee] would allow the one fasting to apply aloes to his eyes.
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd]
\nHaving said this, it is safer not to apply it so as to steer clear of the difference that the scholars have concerning this issue.
\nSnuffing the nose during ablution
\nThe Messenger of All\u00e2h (sallAll\u00e2hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said to Laq\u00eet bin Sabrah,
\n\u201cperform the ablution well, wipe between the fingers and exert yourself in snuffing the nose, unless you are fasting.\u201d
\n[Ab\u00fb D\u00e2w\u00fbd]
\nSo he prohibited from exertion when snuffing the nose while fasting, the reason for this is that through exertion one puts his fast to risk [because the water could reach the back of the throat].
\nAll\u00e2h knows best.
\n[Actions which nullify the fast are eating and drinking deliberately; making oneself vomit; menstruation and post-natal bleeding and sexual intercourse.]
\nLaylatu-l-Qadr
\nLaylatu-l-Qadr is a blessed night, All\u0101h blessed it over one thousand months that do not contain it. It is called Laylatu-l-Qadr either because of its excellence and great status or because provisions and life-spans for the following year are decreed therein. The Angels and the Spirit descend in that night and greet those who pray by night with the sal\u0101m; the scholars differ as to whether they extend the sal\u0101m to them of their own accord or they convey the sal\u0101m of their Lord.
\nA night in which the Lord of the worlds sends sal\u0101m to His servants is a night that is indeed worthy of being better than a thousand months, it is a night worthy of being sought after and searched for. This is why the Messenger of All\u0101h ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would search for it along with his Companions and the righteous who came after them.
\nThis night occurs in the last ten days of Ramad\u0101n, and is most likely to occur in the odd nights rather than the even nights. It seems clear that it occurs on the twenty-first night; this is because the Messenger of All\u0101h saw this night in a dream but was made to forget it, however he remembered that in the morning following it, he would prostrate in mud and water. It is authentically reported that it rained on the night of the twenty-first and the Masjid leaked water, [when the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prayed therein, traces of mud and water were seen on his forehead and nose.
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b]
\nMoreover he ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) informed us that on the night of Laylatu-l-Qadr the moon would look like half a plate and the moon never looks like this unless it be in its seventh night or twenty-first night.
\n[Trans: this is the opinion of the author, may All\u0101h have mercy upon him, other opinions have been mentioned such as the opinion that Laylatu-l-Qadr falls on different nights every year, an opinion that was preferred by a group of scholars amongst whom was ibn Hajr]
\nFrom the excellent qualities of this night is that whoever prays during it out of faith and seeking reward, will have his previous sins forgiven him. The evidence for what we have mentioned lies in his ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) sayings,
\n\u201cI was shown Laylatu-l-Qadr, then one of my wives awoke me and I was made to forget it, so search for it in the last ten nights.\u201d
\n[Muslim]
\n\u201cSeek Laylatu-l-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramad\u0101n\u201d
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nAb\u016b Hurayrah said, \u2018we were discussing Laylatu-l-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of All\u0101h ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) and he said, \u201cwhich of you remembers the night when the moon arose and it was like half a plate?\u201d
\n[Muslim]
\n\u201cWhoever prays the night of Laylatu-l-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward will have his previous sins forgiven.\u201d
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b]
\nIt is recommended for whoever finds it to increasing in praising All\u0101h and invoking Him, and he should frequently supplicate with this supplication, \u201cO All\u0101h! You are the One who pardons greatly, You Love to pardon so pardon me.\u201d
\n[at-Tirmidh\u012b]
\nIf a person was to suffice with praising All\u0101h, this would be better due to the had\u012bth in which it is reported that the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said, \u201cWhoever is diverted by making dhikr of Me from asking of Me, I would grant him the best of what I grant those asking.\u201d
\n[Trans: at-Tirmidh\u012b [#2926] on the authority of Ab\u016b Sa\u06c1\u012bd al-Khudr\u012b with a da\u2019\u012bf isn\u0101d; refer to al-Alb\u0101n\u012b, ad-Da\u2019\u012bfah [#1335]. Ah\u0101d\u012bth with similar meaning have been reported on the authority of \u2018Umar in al-Bayhaq\u012b, Shu\u2019ab al-\u012am\u0101n [#573] and as-Suy\u016bt\u012b, al-L\u0101l\u012b\u2019 [2\/288] said that al-H\u0101fidh ibn Hajr declared it hasan; J\u0101bir in al-Bayhaq\u012b [#574]; Hudhayfah in Ab\u016b Nu\u2019\u0101ym [7\/313] and indicated as hasan by al-Alb\u0101n\u012b; and M\u0101lik bin al-\u00e7\u0101rithah in al-Bayhaq\u012b [#575].]
\nUmayyah said,
\nShould I mention my need or should your
\nGifts suffice me, for sure giving gifts is part of your disposition
\nIf a person was to praise you one day
\nThe one who he is praising would suffice him
\n[Trans: D\u012bw\u0101n Umayyah [p. 333] in praise ibn Jud\u2019\u0101n. Sufy\u0101n bin \u2018Uyaynah was asked about his (SAW) saying, \u201cThe most superior supplication on the Day of \u2018Arafah is, \u2018none has the right to be worshipped save All\u0101h, the One Who has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion, to Him belongs all praise and He is Omnipotent over all things\u201d and [in explanation to the fact that a direct request is not mentioned therein] he mentioned the previous had\u012bth and these verses and proceeded to say, \u2018this is an object of creation saying of another that it is sufficient to praise him [to get what he desires] rather than directly ask him, what then of the Creator, Blessed and Exalted is He?\u2019 Recorded by al-H\u0101fidh ibn \u2018Abdu-l-Barr, at-Tamh\u012bd [2\/680] and al-Bayhaq\u012b [#575]]
\nI\u2019tik\u0101f, generosity and reciting the Qur\u2019\u0101n in Ramad\u0101n
\nAll\u0101h, Exalted is He, says,
\n\u201cPurify My House for those who perform taw\u0101f, for those who stay there for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]\u201d [al-Baqarah (2): 125]
\n\u201c\u2026and do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the Mosques.\u201d [al-Baqarah (2): 187]
\nI\u2019tik\u0101f is to visit All\u0101h in one of His houses and to seclude oneself with Him, it is duty upon the host to honour his guest. It is mentioned in an authentic had\u012bth that the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said, \u201ceach time someone goes to, and comes from, a Mosque, All\u0101h prepares for him a feast in Paradise.\u201d
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nIt is recommended to perform I\u2019tik\u0101f in the last ten days of Ramad\u0101n so that a person can seek after Laylatu-l-Qadr, this was when the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would perform I\u2019tik\u0101f towards the end of his life. \u2018A\u2019ishah said, \u2018the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would perform I\u2019tik\u0101f in the last ten days of Ramad\u0101n until All\u0101h caused him to pass away, then his wives after him would similarly perform I\u2019tik\u0101f.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nShe also said, \u2018when the last ten days came, he ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would spend the night in worship, awake his family, exert himself in worship and tighten his waist-wrapper\u2019
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nin another report, \u2018the Messenger of All\u0101h ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would exert himself in worship in the last ten nights in a way that he never did in any other night\u2019
\n[Muslim]
\nThe meaning of \u2018tighten his waist-wrapper\u2019 is that he would not take pleasure with his wives or that he would exert and devote himself to worship.
\nIn this month, it is recommended to increase in the recitation of the Qur\u2019\u0101n and to be generous, for both the one performing I\u2019tik\u0101f and the one who is not. Ibn \u2018Abb\u0101s said, \u2018the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramad\u0101n when Jibr\u012bl met him. Jibr\u012bl would meet him in every night of Ramad\u0101n until he passed away, and he ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would recite the Qur\u2019\u0101n to him. When Jibril met him, he would be more generous than the strong wind.\u2019
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nThe meaning of \u2018strong wind\u2019 here is a reference to its wide reach and its swiftness.
\nIt is authentically reported that the Prophet ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) would recite the Qur\u2019\u0101n to Jibr\u012bl every Ramad\u0101n once, but in the year in which he passed away, he recited the Qur\u2019\u0101n to him twice.
\n[Bukh\u0101r\u012b and Muslim]
\nFasting Six Days of Shaww\u0101l
\nIt is authentically reported that the Messenger of All\u0101h ( sallAll\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wa sallam) said, \u201cwhoever fasts the month of Ramad\u0101n and then follows this with six days of Shaww\u0101l, it will be as if he fasted the whole year\u201d
\n[Muslim]
\nThe reason for this is that a good deed is multiplied tenfold, hence every fast is like ten fasts.
\n[Trans: Hence, a total of 36 fasts will be equivalent to 360 fasts]
\nTranslated by Abu Rumaysah
\n(Taken from Ilmgate.org)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Objectives of Fasting By Shaykh al-\u2019Izz al-Deen ibn \u2018Abd al-Sal\u00e2m (ra) A partial translation of Maqasid al-Sawm The Obligation of Fasting All\u00e2h, Exalted is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,57,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-motivators","category-tazkiyah","wpcat-33-id","wpcat-57-id","wpcat-24-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2769"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2769\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiqhulislam.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}