Every
act of goodness is rewarded. Rewards are given based on the
sincerity of the intention. Fasting is the only worship about
which Allah has said that He Himself is the reward for it.
This means that one develops such a close relationship with
Allah that Allah Himself becomes the helper.
Abu
Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: All other
deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me
and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When
any of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and
noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a
quarrel with him, he should respond with: I am observing a
fast. By Him in Whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the
breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah
than the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two
joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful
by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari
and Muslim).
Sa'ad
ibn Sahl relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "There is a gate of Paradise called Rayyan through
which only those will enter on the Day of Judgment who are
regular in observing the fast and no one else. A call will go
forth: Where are those who observed the fast regularly? And
they will step forth and no one beside them will enter through
that gate. After they shall have entered, the gate will be
closed and no one else will enter thereby" (Bokhari
and Muslim).
Abu
Sa'id Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "When a servant of Allah observes the fast for a
day for the sake of Allah, He thereby repels the Fire from him
a distance of seventy years of journeying" (Bokhari
and Muslim).
Abu
Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "He who observes the fast during Ramadhan out of
sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his
past sins forgiven him" (Bokhari and Muslim).
Abu
Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "When Ramadhan arrives the gates of Paradise are
opened and the gates of hell are locked up and satans are put
in chains" (Bokhari and Muslim).
|