Virtues of Fasting in Ramadhaan

Virtues of Fasting in Ramadhaan

 All praise is due to Allaah alone; may He exalt the mention of Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.

It is narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to give glad tidings to his companions regarding the arrival of the month of Ramadhaan. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has informed us that in this month the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “When the first night of Ramadhaan comes, the doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell will be closed, and the devils will be chained, and it will be said, 'O you who desires virtue! Come forth and O you who desires evil! Stay behind', and Allaah has people whom He frees from Hell every night (in that month).” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).

He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said, “You have been approached by a blessed month, during which Allaah shades you with His mercy, forgives your sins, responds to your supplications and looks at your competition in virtuous deeds and boasts in front of the angels (about them), so show Allaah from yourselves that which is good, because the miserable one is he who is deprived from the mercy of Allaah (in this month).”

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said, “Whoever fasts (the month of) Ramadhaan out of faith, anticipating the reward of Allaah, then all his sins prior to that will be forgiven; and whoever prays the Ramadhaan (night prayer) out of faith, anticipating the reward of Allaah, then all his sins prior to that will be forgiven.” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).

In a Hadeeth Qudsi, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam narrated on behalf of his Lord, “All the deeds of the son of Aadam are multiplied from ten multiples in reward up to seven hundred multiples, except for fasting; it is for Me and I will reward it (accordingly), for he (the fasting person) left his desires, food and drink (purely) for My sake."  He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said, “The fasting person has two times when he will rejoice, one at the time he breaks his fast, and one when he meets his Lord. I swear by the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk."