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by Y. L. U. Marikkar

Fasting is a prospective shield (against sins). When any of you fast, he should refrain from obscenity, shouting loud and unbecoming behaviour. If anyone quarrels with him, let him answer by saying; I am fasting (twice). The mouth smell of a fasting person is, according to Allah, of better fragrance on the day of judgement than musk. A person who fasts has two occasions to feel happy. The first he feels happy when he ends his fast and the 2nd he feels happy when he meets his Lord for having fasted. (Related by Ahamed, Muslim and Al-Nassaie).

Abu Hurairah (Rali) had quoted the Prophet as saying when Ramazan approached "You are about to receive a Blessed Month which you are required to fast. During this month, the gates of Heaven are open and the gates of Hell are closed, satans are chained. It includes a night, which is far better than a thousand months and he who is deprived of the benefit of that night is certainly deprived." (Related by Ahamed, Al-Nassaie and Al-Baihaki).

It was also quoted by Abu Hurrairah (Rali) that the Prophet of Islam had said, "He who fasts in the month of Ramazan out of faith and seeking Allah's pleasure, is forgiven all his past sins." A person who does not fast in Ramazan when he is healthy, commits a much graver crime than adultery and drunkenness. Indeed, he is believed to be a non-Muslim. (Related by Al-Bukhari).

Fasting is not to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. A person who is fasting should refrain from all sinful actions.

The following Hadees by the Prophet of Islam, need the attention of everyone.

Interposed between the verses explaining the rules of fasting, is a verse which represents a unique understanding of man. It reaches to the depth of human psychology. It offers complete and highly treasured compensation for the difficulty of fasting, an immediate reward for the right response to Allah's commands. The compensation and the reward takes the form of man's being near to Allah, and Allah's answer of man's prayers. This is expressed in a highly gentle and compassionate style: If my servants ask you about Me I am indeed near.

I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls to Me. Let them then respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be wise. Allah says of Himself: I am indeed near, I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls to Me. How kind, compassionate and friendly. With such friendliness how great, sounds very trivial. Every word in this verse adds to the air of friendliness and compassion. The fact that Allah considers the peoples His own, and answers them directly also adds to the air of compassion. He has not instructed His messenger to His people: "I am near", He Himself gives the answer directly to His servants as soon as the question is made. He has not said; "I hear their prayers", but had assured them immediately of answering their prayers. It is indeed a verse which fills the hearts of the believers with friendly reassurance and complete confidence. It makes their life happy, peaceful and secure. When people respond to Allah they can hope that their prayers may be answered. They should pray Allah and must not show any impatience as they wait the answer of their prayers. He Himself decides when to answer their prayers at the proper time.

Salman Al-Parsi, the person Companion of Prophet Muhammed had reported, that the Prophet has said: "Allah feels ashamed to return unanswered a servant of His, who has stretched his hands to Him asking Him something good". (Transmitted by Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah).

Numerous traditions (Hadees) of the Prophet have been quoted which explain the great value of fasting as a form of worship. Hazarath Abu Hurairah (Rali) had quoted, that the Prophet as said, Allah says; every action a human does belongs to him except fasting, which does for my sake, and I reward it accordingly.

'There is a door to Heaven called Al-Rayyam, through which only fasting people are admitted. It will be asked: where are the fasting people? They stand up. No one is admitted through that door except them. When they have entered, the door will be closed and no one else can get through it. (Related by Al-Bukhari).

According to this Hadees, fasting people have a special status on the day of judgement, which merits the provision of a special door for them to be admitted into Heaven, name of that door is very significant. "Al-Rayyan" is an adjective which describes in normal usage something which is ripe, full of juice.

It is needless to say that a person who fasts throughout the day, suffers from thirst. Nothing is dearer to him than a cool drink. When his gate to Heaven is called "Al-Rayyan", with connotations of juice and ripened fruits, it is left for our imagination to have a picture of what awaits him inside Heaven.

So let all of us observe the fasting during this blessed month of Ramazan with dedication and faith and refrain from all sinful acts, devote ourselves in prayers and meritorious acts to reap the full benefit of our fasting.

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