The Virtues of Fasting 

Allaah Has distinguished fasting with many virtues that are not found in other acts of worship, and the following are some of them: 

Fasting does not have a specified reward, bur rather it is for Allaah to allocate its reward. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Every act of the son of Adam is for him, every good deed is multiplied in reward by seven hundred multiples; Allaah the Exalted and Majestic said:  except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it, he has abstained from food and drink, and sexual pleasures for My sake” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. Imaam Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “All deeds are multiplied ten multiples up to seven hundred multiples, except for fasting as its reward does not have a designated limit. Allaah will multiply its reward abundantly without count. Fasting requires great patience and Allaah says about patient people that which means: “Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account [i.e. limit].” [Quran: 39: 10].  

Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, continued saying: “Know that multiplying the reward results from many things, such as the honorable rank of the place in which a deed is performed, like praying in the Haram of Makkah for example. It could also be for the honorable rank of the period during which it is performed, like performing deeds during the month of Ramadhaan or the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah. Since fasting is an act of worship that is multiplied than others in a normal situation, therefore, in Ramadhaan its reward is multiplied even more due to the honorable rank of the period during which fasting is performed and also due to it being one of the pillars of Islaam” [End of quote]. 

Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thawri, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “This is one of the most wonderful prophetic narrations. On the day of Judgment Allaah will hold each slave to account and pay what he owes to others from his deeds (for having oppressed or transgressed their rights) and then admits him into Paradise with the virtue of his fasting. The reward for fasting is the only thing that is not effected in this case and thus becomes the cause for the slave to enter Paradise” [End of quote]. 

The fasting person rejoices twice: Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast because of his breaking it  (and thus enjoys what he had to abstain from) and the other when he meets his Lord because of the reward for his fast [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The reason why the fasting person rejoices, is because humans like to enjoy their favorite food, drinks and spouse, and since fasting prevents one from these matters during a certain period, thus being able to enjoy them again gives one joy as one appreciates the favors of Allaah upon him, namely the permission to enjoy these matters. Allaah says that which means: “Say, “In the bounty of Allaah and in His mercy — in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.”” [Quran: 10: 58]” [End of quote]. 

This is conditioned to him breaking his fast on lawful provisions, otherwise his supplications would be rejected as in the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, in which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, mentioned a man who travels for a long period of time, his hair is disheveled and covered with dust. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “He lifts his hand towards the sky supplicating: `My Lord! My Lord!` But his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful, how then, can his supplication be accepted?” [Muslim].

As for the joy he will feel upon meeting his Lord, it is due to the great reward he will find awaiting for him in his record of deeds, as Allaah says that which means: “And whatever good you put forward for yourselves — you will find it with Allaah. It is better and greater in reward.” [Quran: 73: 20]. 

Allaah also says that which means: “The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it]” [Quran: 3: 30]. 

The mouth smell of the fasting person is better than the fragrance of musk: Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Surely, the breath of one who observes fasting smells better to Allaah than the fragrance of musk.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. Imaam Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “This smell that comes due to the stomach being empty is usually considered a bad smell by people, but since it resulted from the person’s obedience to Allaah and whilst seeking His pleasure, therefore, it became highly regarded in the scale of Allaah”  [End of quote]. 

One enters through a gate that is exclusively for fasting people: Sahl Ibn Sa`d, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “In Paradise there is a gate which is called Ar-Rayyaan through which only those who observe fasting will enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else will enter through it. It will be called out: `Where are those who observe fasting?` So they will stand up and proceed towards it. When the last of them will have entered, the gate will be closed and then no one will enter through that gate.” [Muslim].  

It distances the fasting person seventy years from Hell: Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Every slave of Allaah who observes fasting for one day for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will draw his face farther from Hell-fire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy years.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. Imaam Al-Qurtubi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “For the sake of Allaah, means fasting with the intention being pure for Allaah” [End of quote]. 

It is a protection for the fasting person from the Hellfire: Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fasting is a protection (i.e. from Hellfire).” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. 

It is a means for  expiating sins: Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “The wrongdoing of the person with his spouse, children and neighbours is expiated by his prayers, fasting, spending in charity and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim].  

It intercedes for the fasting person: ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fasting and [reading] Quran will intercede for the person: Fasting will say: O Lord I forbade him from eating and drinking so let me intercede for him, and the Quran will say: I deprived him from his sleep at night so let me intercede for him,” He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then said: “So their  intercession will be accepted.” [Ahmad].