The acts of worship that the Muslims practice seek to
achieve certain goals and benefits that Allah wants His slaves
to acquire knowledge in them and to comprehend and achieve
them. Among these acts of worship is fasting during the lunar
month of Ramadhan, which has several goals that the Muslims
must strive to achieve with his heart and by his actions.
These goals are as follows:
1. Achieving At-Taqwa, that is, the fear from Allah.
Allah said, what translated means, "O you who believe!
Observing As-Sawm (fasting) is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun
(the pious)." [2:183]. Hence, fasting is a means to achieve
At-Taqwa. In fact, all acts of worship and Tawhid are methods
and means to achieve At-Taqwa, as Allah has said, what
translated means, "O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who
created you and those who were before you so that you may
become Al-Muttaqun." [2:21]
2. Acquiring the rewards of Allah. Al-Bukhari and
Muslim narrated that Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) related to the
Prophet(sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) , that he said, what
translated means, "Allah the Exalted said, 'All the deeds of
the son of Adam are his, except for As-Siyam, for it is Mine
and I will reward for it.'"
3. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) also
said, "The Sa-im has two happy moments: when he breaks his
fast he is happy, and when he meets his Lord he is happy
because of his fast." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. About his
saying, "When he breaks his fast he is happy," and Imam
Muslim's addition, "Because of his breaking his fast," Imam Al-Qurtubi
commented, "It means he is happy because his hunger and thirst
have ended, since he is allowed to break his fast. This
happiness is natural and this is apparently the desired
meaning. It was also said that his being happy is because of
his breaking the fast, means that he has fulfilled his fast,
and as a culmination for his practicing the acts of worship.
His saying, 'And when he meets his Lord he is happy because of
his fast,' means he is happy because of the rewards for fasting
and its complete awards.'"
4. As-Sawm purifies the soul and helps it acquire the
habit of obeying Allah and His Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) by defeating the desires of the heart. Fasting
teaches refraining from following the desires because the soul
of the Sa-im becomes obedient to Allah's commands. Also, Satan
has a stronger hold over the souls that often obey the
desires. When the soul abandons its desires, it will become
more difficult for Satan to have a hold on the heart.
5. Being saved from the Fire, for the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) said, what translated means, "And Allah has
those whom he frees from the Fire, and this occurs every night
(meaning in Ramadhan)." [At-Tirmithi & ibn Majah]
6. Ash-Shafa`ah (the right of intercession). The
Prophet(sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, "As-Siyam and the
Quran will intercede on behalf of the slave. As-Siyam says, 'O
Lord! I prevented him from food and obeying his desires in the
morning. Therefore, accept my Shafa`ah on his behalf.' And
the Quran says, 'I prevented him from sleeping at night.
Therefore, accept my Shafa`ah on his behalf,' and they will be
accepted as intercessors.'" [Ahmad, Al-Hakim & Al-Bayhaqi].
7. Having the sins forgiven. There is no doubt that
fasting directs to having one's sins forgiven and erased. The
Prophet(sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, "The five
prayers, and from Friday to the next Friday, and Ramadhan to
the next Ramadhan, are erasers for what occurs between them, as
long as major sins are avoided." [Muslim]. Also, the Messenger
of Allah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, what translated
means, "Whoever fasts Ramadhan with Iman and Ih.tisab, will
have his previous sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]. Imam
Ahmad and An-Nasaii added the following to the above narration,
"And also what will occur later on (meaning future sins, as
well)." "With Iman" entails fasting while believing with the
heart in the obligation of fasting during Ramadhan. As for
Ih.tisab, it means that one anticipates the reward and his
fasting is therefore only for the sake of Allah and not to
imitate his people and community or for any other worldly gain.