"Oh you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed for you as It was prescribed for those before you that you may become God-conscious" (Q2:183).
Ayyuhal lkhwah , let us look at the benefits of fasting. According to the above ayah, Allaah says that fasting has been made compulsory upon us to achieve taqwaa, God-consciousness .When the word taqwaa (fear) is used with respect to Allaah, it means that one must fear or protect himself from Allaahs anger and punishment. Allaah says in the Quraan: "And AIlaah warns you about Himself (that is, His punishment]" (Q3:28).
Hence, the person must do what he can to avoid and protect the mself from earning the anger of AlIaah. He does this by being sincere to Allaah, by performing what Allaah has ordered and remaining away from what Allaah has prohibited. This is, in essence, taqwaa. To develop taqwaa, one must fulfill the following conditions:
1) Ikhlaas, sincere intention that the act is performed purely for the pleasure of Allaah, out of love for Him, while hoping for His reward and mercy, as well as fearing His anger and punishment if He is disobeyed.
2) To do the deed in accordance with the authentic Sunnah. This is to have the necessary knowledge of the ibaadah that is I being performed, knowing how the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) performed the action and proper times for the performance of the action. Allaah says: "Oh believers, have taqwaa of Allaah as is his right to have taqwaa, and die not except while you are Muslims (Q3:102)
Ibn Masud (may Allaah be pleased with him) explained that this means "that Allaah should be obeyed and not disobeyed, He should be remembered and not forgotten and that He should be thanked and not be ungrateful to."Therefore, when we fast to achieve taqwa; we must do so with faith and intending to please Allaah. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allaahbe upon him) said: "Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadaan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah then all his previous sins Will be forgiven." (Bukhari)
Taqwaa is to act in obedience to Allaah, upon light from Allaah hoping for reward from Allaah:to avoid acts of disobedience to Allaah, upon light from Allaah and fearing Allaahs punishment. To have complete taqwaa or protection from Allaahs anger and punishment through fasting c:nemust perform it by engaging In all that is lawful and remain away from all of the forbidden acts and doubtful matters.
One must also perform the recommended acts of fasting and remain away from the disapproved a For instance, we should avoid saying foul or false statements. The Prophet (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink" (Bukhari)
In another hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) said: "Fasting is not (merely abstaining) from eating and drinking, rather it is abstaining) from ignorant and indecent speech, so if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: It! Am fasting, I am fasting." [Ibn Khuzaymah]
Let us do our best this Ramadaan to fast in the way and manner enjoined by Allah and we should know that He accepts only from the people of taqwaa. He says: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are AI-Muttaqoon (the pious)" (Q5:28)
AI-Jannah (Paradise), which is the blessed abode we all look forward to is only for the muttaqoon (pious). Allaah says: "Verily, for the muttaqoon (pious and righteous persons) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord. " (Q68: 34)