This excerpt is taken from the book Ahkam o Masail Ramadan by the esteemed Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani رحمه الله.
Obligation:
The Almighty Allah states:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Reference: (Al-Baqarah: 183)
“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety.”
From this noble verse, it is known that fasting is among those divine commands that were mentioned in previous heavenly religions.
The Prophet ﷺ stated:
بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة والحج وصوم رمضان
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, Chapter: Your supplication is your faith (8); Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Explanation of the Pillars of Islam (16)
“Islam is built upon five things: testifying that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger; establishing prayer; paying zakat; performing Hajj; and fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan.”
The Virtue of Fasting:
From this Prophetic hadith, it is known that fasting is such an important act of worship in Islam that it has been declared a pillar of Islam. Fasting possesses a unique characteristic: it is far removed from hypocrisy and show-off, hidden from the eyes of others, a complete embodiment of sincerity, and a secret between the worshipper and the Worshipped, the prostrator and the Prostrated. Its knowledge is confined to the fasting person and Allah Almighty alone. Just as other acts of worship like prayer, Hajj, and Jihad have an outward form and appearance, fasting does not have such an outward form that an observer could perceive it. Just as fasting is a secret between the Provider and the provided, and the Master and the servant, so too is the matter of its reward and recompense unique. When Allah Almighty bestows the reward and recompense for fasting, He will set the angels aside and grant its reward Himself.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah ﷺ narrates a Prophetic saying:
كل عمل ابن آدم يضاعف، الحسنة بعشر أمثالها إلى سبع مائة ضعف، قال الله تعالى: إلا الصوم فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به، يدع شهوته وطعامه من أجلي
Reference: Mishkat (1959), Bukhari Kitab al-Sawm Bab Hal Yaqulu Inni Sa'im Idha Shutima (1904), Muslim Kitab al-Siyam Bab Fadl al-Siyam (1151)
"All the deeds of the son of Adam will be multiplied. A good deed will be multiplied from ten times to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty will say: Fasting is exclusively for Me, and I alone will give its reward. (In this world) the fasting person abandoned his desires and food for My sake."
If the word أجزي is read in the passive voice, i.e., أجزى, then the meaning will be: "I Myself am the recompense for fasting." Similarly, Allah Almighty has made a special gate in Paradise for the fasting person, named "Bab al-Rayyan."
A Prophetic saying is:
في الجنة ثمانية أبواب، منها باب يسمى الريان، لا يدخله إلا الصائمون
Reference: Mishkat (1957) from Sahl ibn Sa'd ﷺ, Bukhari Kitab Bad' al-Khalq Bab Sifat Abwab al-Jannah (3257), Muslim Kitab al-Siyam Fadl al-Siyam (1152)
"There are eight gates in Paradise, one of which is called 'al-Rayyan.' No one will enter through it except the fasting people."
Another Prophetic saying is:
إذا دخل شهر رمضان فتحت أبواب السماء، وفي رواية : فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب جهنم، وسلسلت الشياطين
Reference: Mishkat from Abu Hurayrah ﷺ (1952), Bukhari Kitab al-Sawm Bab Hal Yuqalu Ramadan Aw Shahr Ramadan (1899), Muslim Kitab al-Siyam Bab Fadl Shahr Ramadan (1079)
"When the month of Ramadan (enters upon the believers), the gates of the heavens (and in one narration, the gates of Paradise) are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
From the aforementioned clear and authentic hadiths, it is known that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, opens the gates of Paradise for the fasting person, and there is also a special gate for them in Paradise called "Bab al-Rayyan." The attainment of Allah's vast Paradise is only through correct beliefs and righteous deeds. However, there are also some people in this world who are deprived of correct belief and are fond of evil deeds, addicted to opium, hashish, and heroin, intoxicated by immorality and drinking, free from the restrictions of lawful and unlawful, tearing apart the veil of chastity and honor, burying modesty and self-respect, and with their impure and foul tongues, chanting slogans like "Damadam Mast Qalandar," "Ali da Pehla Number," "Na Neeti Na Qaza Keeti" (neither intention nor missed prayer). Such people have adopted criteria and means for their salvation contrary to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. Allah's Paradise is free from such absurdities and is prepared for the people of Tawhid, believers, mujahidin, and the righteous servants of Allah who are the most refined people in terms of beliefs and deeds, who adhere to obligatory duties and perform supererogatory and voluntary acts with cheerfulness, eagerness, desire, and enthusiasm.
The Purpose of Fasting:
Allah, the One, without partner, has stated its purpose in the noble verse concerning the obligation of fasting as the attainment of piety and righteousness, fear of Allah, and devotion to Allah. Fasting teaches a person such strength of endurance that enables them to control their lower self (nafs), and by observing the fast, a person develops such a faculty that allows them to protect themselves from all evil deeds, base morals, and reprehensible habits. Their days and nights become free from detestable rituals and pure and clear. Day and night, they appear engaged in noble qualities such as the remembrance of Allah, piety and righteousness, the sweetness of faith, turning to Allah, asceticism and piety, bowing and prostrating, glorification and declaration of Allah's oneness, humility and submissiveness, patience and endurance, forbearance, seriousness and dignity. Fasting brings a person into contact with such a great virtue that enables them to abstain from forbidden things, and by avoiding the things that Allah Almighty has declared unlawful during the fast, they learn the lesson that if it is easy for them to temporarily abstain from permissible things, then avoiding permanent and eternally forbidden things is not difficult.
