Compiled by: Abu Ammar Umar Farooq Saeedi (Hafizahullah)
"All actions of the son of Adam are for him except fasting; it is solely for Me, and I will reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So, when one of you is fasting, he should avoid indecent speech and quarreling. If someone insults him or wants to fight with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasing to Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the fragrance of musk. The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, rejoicing in his fasting."[Sahih Muslim 2706]
"Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Al-Rayyan, through which only those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter with them. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to fast?' They will then enter through it, and once the last of them has entered, it will be closed, and no one else will enter through it."
[Sahih Muslim 2710]
The word "Rayyan" literally means "that which quenches thirst." It signifies that those who endured thirst and other hardships during fasting will be rewarded with blessings that quench their thirst, which is why this door is named "Rayyan."
"No servant fasts a day in the path of Allah except that Allah distances his face from the Hellfire by seventy years for that day."[Sahih Muslim 2711]
"The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting in the sacred month of Muharram."
[Sahih Muslim 2756]
"I do not know of a day that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed as more virtuous than Ashura, or any month he preferred more after Ramadan than Muharram."(Agreed upon)Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, a similar narration from Hazrat Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions the virtue of fasting on the day of Ashura, stating that it expiates the sins of the previous year.
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast so frequently in Sha'ban that we would think he would continue fasting, and sometimes he would not fast at all until we thought he had given up fasting. I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) complete the fasts of any month except Ramadan, but he would fast the most in Sha'ban."In another narration from Sahih Muslim, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:"I never saw him fast in any month more than he did in Sha'ban. He used to fast almost the entire month, except for a few days."
[Sahih Muslim 2722]
"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
[Sahih Muslim 2495]
He also narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven."
[Sahih Muslim 1781]
"Whoever fasts during Ramadan and then follows it with six fasts in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted for a lifetime."
[Sahih Muslim 2758]
"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (of Dhu al-Hijjah)." The companions asked, "Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Not even Jihad, except for a person who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with either."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 757]
"Fasting on the day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the following year. Fasting on Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year."
[Sahih Muslim 2747]
Hazrat Mu’adhah asked Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) fast three days every month?" She replied, "Yes." She further mentioned that he did not specify any particular days for fasting.(Sahih Muslim)
Additionally, the narration of Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to fast three days every month is also found in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim.
This compilation highlights the significance of fasting across different occasions and months, emphasizing the virtues of Ramadan, Muharram, Ashura, Sha'ban, and other special fasts as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Virtue of Fasting:
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Allah Almighty says:"All actions of the son of Adam are for him except fasting; it is solely for Me, and I will reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So, when one of you is fasting, he should avoid indecent speech and quarreling. If someone insults him or wants to fight with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasing to Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the fragrance of musk. The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, rejoicing in his fasting."[Sahih Muslim 2706]
"The Gate of Al-Rayyan" - A Special Door in Paradise for Those Who Fast:
Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Al-Rayyan, through which only those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter with them. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to fast?' They will then enter through it, and once the last of them has entered, it will be closed, and no one else will enter through it."
[Sahih Muslim 2710]
The word "Rayyan" literally means "that which quenches thirst." It signifies that those who endured thirst and other hardships during fasting will be rewarded with blessings that quench their thirst, which is why this door is named "Rayyan."
A Single Day of Fasting Provides Protection from Hellfire:
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"No servant fasts a day in the path of Allah except that Allah distances his face from the Hellfire by seventy years for that day."[Sahih Muslim 2711]
The Virtue of Fasting in the Month of Muharram:
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting in the sacred month of Muharram."
[Sahih Muslim 2756]
The Fasting of Ashura:
When Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) was asked about the fasting of the 10th of Muharram (Ashura), he replied:"I do not know of a day that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed as more virtuous than Ashura, or any month he preferred more after Ramadan than Muharram."(Agreed upon)Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, a similar narration from Hazrat Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) mentions the virtue of fasting on the day of Ashura, stating that it expiates the sins of the previous year.
The Significance of Fasting in Sha’ban:
In the narrations of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mentions:"The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast so frequently in Sha'ban that we would think he would continue fasting, and sometimes he would not fast at all until we thought he had given up fasting. I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) complete the fasts of any month except Ramadan, but he would fast the most in Sha'ban."In another narration from Sahih Muslim, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:"I never saw him fast in any month more than he did in Sha'ban. He used to fast almost the entire month, except for a few days."
[Sahih Muslim 2722]
The Virtues of Ramadan:
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
[Sahih Muslim 2495]
He also narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven."
[Sahih Muslim 1781]
The Six Fastings of Shawwal:
Hazrat Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"Whoever fasts during Ramadan and then follows it with six fasts in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted for a lifetime."
[Sahih Muslim 2758]
The Virtue of Good Deeds in the First Ten Days of Dhu al-Hijjah:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (of Dhu al-Hijjah)." The companions asked, "Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Not even Jihad, except for a person who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with either."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 757]
The Virtue of Fasting on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhu al-Hijjah), Mondays, and Three Days Each Month:
Hazrat Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about the details of his fasting, he said:"Fasting on the day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the following year. Fasting on Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year."
[Sahih Muslim 2747]
Hazrat Mu’adhah asked Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) fast three days every month?" She replied, "Yes." She further mentioned that he did not specify any particular days for fasting.(Sahih Muslim)
Additionally, the narration of Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to fast three days every month is also found in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim.
This compilation highlights the significance of fasting across different occasions and months, emphasizing the virtues of Ramadan, Muharram, Ashura, Sha'ban, and other special fasts as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
