Narrated Abu Hurayrah [RA]: The Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings be upon him] said;
"Fasting is a shield, [the fasting person] should not have sexual intercourse [with his spouse] and He should not behave ignorantly, if someone fights, quarrels or insults him, he should say: I am fasting twice, I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the odour coming from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of AIlaah than the smell of musk.
[Allaah says]: "He abstains from his food, drink, desires and others for My sake. The fast is for Me and I alone will reward it and good deeds shall have ten times the like thereof its credit"[Bukhari]
Fasting is a shield In another narration in Sahih Bukhari, the meaning of it being a shield is that it acts as barrier from committing sins and from the fire of Hell.
Ibn AI-Arabee said: "Verily fasting is a shield against Hell, because it the fasting person abstains from desire, greed, yearning etc. and Hell is surrounded with desires, lust craving etc. In short, when he gives up his desires, lust and appetite in this world, that would be a veil for him against the Hell fire in the Hereafter". It is for Allaah. While it is known that all good deeds are supposed to be for Allaah, He made a special reference to the fast of Ramadan as being for Him.
Open and Close
Narrated Abu Huraira Allah's Apostle said:
"When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are open and the gates of the (Hell) Fire are closed, and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
The month of the Quran, another great virtue of the month of Ramadan is that the Quran was revealed in it. For this reason we are encouraged to engage, ourselves with the reading of the Quran, Allaah says;
"the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs (or the guidance and the criterion [between right and wrong]. [Q2:-185]
All previous sins are forgiven. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him], said:
"Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with faith and seeks Allaah's pleasure and reward will have his previous sins forgiven." [Ahmad].
Better than one thousand months.
Allaah informs us that there is a night in the month of Ramadan that is better than one thousand months and we will get the reward of someone who has done acts of worship for this number of months if only we will be one of those who will busy ourselves with acts of worship on this night. AIIaah says;
"The night of AI-Qadr is better than a thousand months". [Q 97: 3]
The benefits that are inherent in the month of Ramadan are so numerous that we can only mention a few on this page. May Allaah grant us the all the good that are in this blessed month [Aamin].
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited