Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Mutarrif bin Abdullah bin Shikhir says that I once visited Hazrat Usman bin Abi Al-Aas. He had milk from a pregnant she-camel brought for me. I said that I am fasting. He said that I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say that fasting is a shield against Hell just as you take a shield against an enemy. The best way to fast is to keep three fasts every month.

Hazrat Abdullah said that fasting is a shield against Hell just as any one of you uses a shield as a weapon to the best of his ability against an enemy.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira and Hazrat Abu Saeed that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said that Allah Almighty says: Fasting is for Me and I alone give its reward. There are two joys for the fasting person: one at the time of breaking the fast, when he is happy, and the other when he meets his Lord and he will be happy. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the smell from the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved to Allah than the fragrance of musk.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied. The reward of a good deed is increased from ten times to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty says: Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I alone will give its reward. The fasting person leaves his food and his desires for My sake. There are two joys for the fasting person: one is the joy he feels at the time of breaking his fast, and the other is the joy he will feel when he meets his Lord. The smell from the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved to Allah than musk. Fasting is a shield, fasting is a shield.

Hazrat Abu Umamah narrates that I asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about an action that will admit me to Paradise." You replied, "Observe fasting, for there is nothing like it." After that, the state of Hazrat Abu Umamah was such that smoke would be seen coming from his house only when there was a guest in his home.

Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d Sa’idi narrates that there is a gate of Paradise called "Rayyan," through which those who fast will enter. When the last fasting person has entered Paradise, it will be closed.

It is narrated similarly through another chain.

Hazrat Iyad bin Ghatif narrates that we went to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah. He said that fasting is a shield as long as a person does not tear it apart.

Hazrat Iyad bin Ghatif narrates that we visited Hazrat Abu Ubaidah during his final illness. He said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that fasting is a shield as long as a person does not tear it."

Hazrat Abdullah bin Rabah narrates that we set out as a delegation towards Hazrat Muawiyah. On the way, we met a monk. While we were with him, food was brought. The people ate the food but I did not eat. The monk asked me, "Why are you not eating?" I said, "I am fasting." He said, "I advise you to observe fasting, because a time will come when tables will be spread and the first to eat from them will be those who fast."

Hazrat Abu Musa narrates that once we were traveling by sea, and we had raised our sails. We could not see any island, nor could we see anything else. Suddenly, we heard a voice: "O people of the boat! Stop, I will tell you something." We stood up and started looking, but we could not see anything. That caller called out seven times. On the seventh time, I stood up and said, "Whoever you are, tell us what you want to say, you can see our condition and know that we cannot come to you." He said, "I want to inform you of a decree of Allah Almighty which He has made obligatory upon Himself! It is this: Whoever keeps himself thirsty for Allah on a hot day, Allah Almighty will quench his thirst on the Day of Resurrection." Abu Usama says that after this, you could never see Hazrat Abu Musa without fasting.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The supplication of a fasting person is not rejected.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: In Paradise, there is a specific door for every deed; the people of that deed will be called through that door. The name of the door for those who fast is "Rayyan."