The Virtues of Fasting – Part 3

I0. It is mentioned in a Hadith that on the first night of Ramadaan the doors of heaven are opened. These doors remain open right till the end of Ramadaan. There is no Muslim who offers salaat in any of the nights of this month except that he receives 2500 rewards for every rakaat that he offers. In addition to this, Allah Ta’ala will construct a palace of rubies. This palace will have sixty doors. Each of these doors will have a golden chamber which will be decorated with rubies.

When the person keeps the first fast of Ramadaan, all the minor sins that he had committed during the past year since the first fast of the last Ramadaan will be forgiven. In addition to this, 70 000 angels will make dua for his forgiveness daily from morning till sunset. For every rakaat of salaat that he offers in Ramadaan, whether it be during the day or at night, he will be rewarded with a tree in paradise. The shade of this tree will be such that a traveller will be able to travel beneath it for a journey of 500 years.

How great is the virtue of fasting! 0 Muslims! Never allow yourself to miss any fast. In fact, if you have the strength, then keep nafl fasts as well. Show total love for Allah Ta’ala who is so merciful that He is rewarding us so abundantly in exchange for a little effort on our part. At least make Allah Ta’ala your beloved for your own benefit in that you will receive the abundant benefits of jannah.

11. It is mentioned in a Hadith that jannah is decorated from the beginning of the year till the end of the year especially for Ramadaan. In addition to this, the large-eyed Hoors of jannah decorate and beautify themselves from the beginning of the year till the end of the year especially for the fasting persons. When Ramadaan commences, jannah says to Allah Ta’ala: “O Allah! Enter your pious servants into me in this month.” As for the large­ eyed Hoors, they say: “O Allah! Appoint husbands for us from among your pious servants.”

The person who did not slander anyone in this month and did not consume any intoxicants shall have all his sins wiped out. As for the one who slanders someone or consumes any intoxicant, all his good deeds for the past year will be wiped out. In other words, he will be committing a major sin. It should be borne in mind that just as rewards are multiplied in a holy month, punishment is also increased if a sin is committed in a holy month.

One should ponder over the warning in this Hadith.

Fear the month of Ramadaan because it is the month of Allah Ta’ala. In this month, Allah Ta’ala has ordered His servants to emulate His practice by abstaining from food and drink. Since Allah Ta’ala is pure from food and drink all the time, this month of Ramadaan has been specially attached to Him.

As for the other months, they all belong to Him as well. Allah Ta’ala has given you eleven months in which you can eat, drink, and indulge in other halaal pleasures. He has set aside just one month for Himself in which He has ordered you to abstain from food, drink, and other halaal pleasures. Therefore, fear the month of Ramadaan, for most certainly, it belongs to Allah Ta’ala.

Obey Allah Ta’ala in this month and abstain from sins. Although obedience to Allah Ta’ala is necessary all the time, it’s importance is stressed in particular places such as Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al­ Munawwarah; and at particular times such as in the month of Ramadaan.

Special attention should be paid to abstaining from sins at such places and at such times because just as rewards are multiplied at these times and places, so too is punishment.

12. It is mentioned in a Hadith that when food is presented to you at the time of iftaar, then prior to opening your fast you should recite the following dua: Translation: “In the name of Allah. All praise is due to Allah. 0 Allah! I have fasted for Your pleasure, it is with Your sustenance that I am opening my fast, and I have placed complete trust in You. Glory be to You and praise be to You. Accept this fast from me for most surely You are All­ Hearing, All-Knowing.”

13. It is mentioned in a Hadith that when you open your fast, it is preferable to open it with dry dates because there is a lot of blessing in this. If you do not have dates, open your fast with water because water is a great purifier.

In certain Ahadith it is also mentioned that the fast should be opened with milk.

14. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the person who keeps fast for 40 days solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala shall have whatever dua he makes to Allah Ta’ala accepted. In other words, this person will become so beloved in the sight of Allah Ta’ala that whatever dua he makes will be accepted by Allah Ta’ala if He feels that it will be to the benefit of that person.

The respected sufis, may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with them, have laid down a system of cutting off all relations with this world for forty days and engaging in the ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala in a musjid. In addition to this, the person must fast for these forty days while he is in the musjid. By doing this, the person will benefit tremendously and will also develop the strength to do good deeds. Through the barakah of this, he will receive special knowledge from Allah Ta’ala and he will also be blessed with a deep understanding of things.

Source: Bahishti Zewar