ZonEMvS

Fasting

After belief, Namaz and Zakath, the most important duty in Islam is Roza (or fasting). The Quran says:

Oh ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

Fasting is obligatory for Muslims in the month of Ramzan. Failure to observe the fast on any day, without a valid reason, during this month is a great sin. We have it on the authority of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that, “Anyone who does not, without illness or any other valid excuse, keep fast on a single day during Ramzan will not succeed in making amends for it even if he were to keep fast daily throughout his life in atonement”.

Recompense

During the fast, a Muslim abstains from eating and drinking and denies himself the pleasures of legitimate carnal satisfaction solely as a measure of worship, and sacrifices his legitimate biological needs and urges exclusively for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa).

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa), too, therefore, has placed a most unique reward on it. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said:

“There is a fixed principle for rewarding all the good deeds of men, and every good deed will be rewarded in accordance with it. But the fast is an exception to this general principle. The standing will and pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) is that since a man forgoes food and drink and crushes down his passions utterly for His sake, He will recompense him directly for it.”

“All the previous sins of a person are forgiven who undertakes the fasts of the month of Ramzan with full faith and with the object of propitiating Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) and earning His reward.”

“There are two moments of special joy for a person who fasts: one is when he breaks the fast and this he experiences here in his earthly existence, the other will come in the Hereafter when he will be presented before the Lord.”

“Roza is a shield against the fire of hell and a strong fortress (which will protect the believer from infernal chastisement).”

“The fast itself will plead with Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) for him who does fasting that he had gone without the day’s meals and shunned the cravings of the flesh for its sake (so he may be forgiven and rewarded to the full). Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) will accept the intercession”.

“The bad odor emanating from the mouth of a person who is fasting (which is sometimes produced because of empty stomach) is more pleasant in the judgment of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) than the sweet smell of musk”.

Another outstanding feature of Roza, besides those given in the Traditions quoted above, is that it lifts man above the level of beasts. To eat and to drink at will and to copulate whenever the urge comes, this is the way of the animals. On the other extreme, to be immune from hunger and thirst and the impulsions of sex , to