Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir
Episode 9
Objectives of Fasting
(Duration – 45 minutes)
Yusuf Chambers: Dear brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) be on all of you. Welcome to the series ‘Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir’. I am your host Yusuf Chambers and today we will be discussing the Objectives of Fasting.
Assalamualaikum, Dr Zakir.
Dr. Zakir: Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.
Yusuf Chambers: The Objectives of Fasting is the topic today. And I’d like to begin by asking you exactly what are the main objectives of fasting?
Dr. Zakir: Alhumdulillah, Was Salaatu Was Salaam Aala Rasoolillah Wa Ala Aalihi Wa Ashaabihi Wa Ajma’een, Amma Baad.
A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem, Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem.
Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li ‘Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatam Min Lisaani Yafqahu Qawli.
There are many objectives of fasting. I’ll just list the main ones.
No. 1 is seeking the pleasure of Allah (swt)
No. 2 is to obtain Taqwa, to acquire taqwa i.e. God consciousness, piety, righteousness and you can say when you acquire taqwa, but natural, when you’ll earn taqwa automatically even the pleasure of Allah (swt) comes under it. So the first one can be included in the second one.
The 3rd is for entering Jannah. We fast for entering Jannah
No. 4 is for the expiation of our sins.
No. 5 is to seek the reward of Allah (swt)
No. 6 is for the forgiveness of our sins. If we fast, Allah (swt) forgives our sins
No. 7 to acquire the Shifa i.e. the right to intercede, the right for intercession. If we fast the fast will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.
No. 8 it is to realize the bounties of Allah (swt)
No. 9 to increase our will power and determination
No. 10 it is to acquire good deeds
No. 11 is to gain more honesty
No. 12 it is to decrease our desire, diminish ones desire
No. 13 to narrow the passage of the Satan, fasting narrows the passage of the Satan.
No. 14 to act as a shield, fasting is a shield for the believer.
No. 15 to abstain from false speech
And no.16 to abstain from false actions.
These are the objectives of fasting.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir, regarding that introduction and we should be covering all of those sub titles today, InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: I hope
Yusuf Chambers: time permitting, of course, InshaAllah. Does a person who fasts ah… Achieve all of these objectives when he or she is fating.
Dr. Zakir: If a person truly fasts in the right way with all its requirements, InshaAllah, he has to achieve all these objectives. But when we see around us all of the people fating they don’t achieve these objectives, why? Whenever a person does an act, it has got 2 components. One is the method and second is the objective. For example we human beings, we eat. Why do we eat? The first thing is the act of eating and second thing is why do we eat? What is the objective of eating? As far as act of eating is concerned it contains 4 parts.
One is making the morsel, no. 2 is putting in the mouth no. 3 is masticating it that’s chewing it, no. 4 is puttying it down the throat. But the goal, the objective is, to make our health, the objective is to live. People eat for the health reason mainly and to live but along with the main action there are ancillary things, there are associated things attached which if it’s not done then the objective will not be achieved.
For example if someone takes sand or salt and makes a morsel out of it puts it’s in the mouth, masticates it and puts it in the throat. Do you think he’ll achieve the objective? Will he achieve the health? Will he live? So there are associated things required with that. Similarly with fasting besides abstaining from food, drink and sex from dawn to sunset there are other things required along with it which we discussed earlier, things encouraged, things which are recommended etc., abstain from things which are discouraged.
To achieve the main objective. There may be some people who may do the right things or there are for example the food that you eat, it should be healthy. If you make a morsel; out of the food which is junk food, which is not hygienic and then if you have, you won’t achieve the objective, you won’t achieve good health. Or may be a person has healthy food and makes a morsel out of it puts it in his mouth, masticates it chews it puts it down the throat. And after sometime he puts his finger in his throat and vomits out so will he achieve the objectives of eating that is health? Not at all. Similarly to achieve the objective you have the have the ancillary things besides abstaining from food, drink and sex abstain from false actions, false speech and if you vomit out the whole purpose is defeated.
Let me give an another simple example. There is a person who comes from the village to my city of Bombay and he says that I want to go to America. So someone tells him, okay purchase a ticket from Bombay to America and you’ll reach America. The main act to go to America, you have to purchase a ticket and go by plane, very easy. So the person from the village purchases a ticket and he goes at the airport then they ask him where is your passport? So he says what is a passport? People told me I require a ticket and I purchased the ticket. They say no you require a passport. He goes back and then he prepares a passport and it takes him few days, few weeks hen he comes back and they ask him that do you have immigration clearance? What is immigration clearance? Some countries require immigration clearance. So he goes and gets back his immigration clearance. Then now he says okay now I have to go to America. So he has a ticket now, he has a passport, he has immigration clearance. And he goes to the counter and he gives it. So they show him the boarding car. When he goes to the immigration they ask him where is your visa? Do I require a visa also? Here again he is stuck.. So he goes back and he apples for a Visa and you know to get the visa of USA, America is one of the most difficult. So he applies and he finally gets it so how to go to America? Is that you have to go by plane and you require a ticket. The main act is you have to fly in the plane and you have to purchase a ticket but associated ancillary things are that you require a passport, there should be immigration clearance, you require a Visa. A person cannot leave the country without having a passport. A person cannot enter any country without having a Visa of that country. So all these are associated things which are understood to a person who has knowledge. But the basic thing is purchasing the air ticket from Bombay to USA but even after he purchases and has all these things done.
For a person… if you compare this to fasting, person abstains from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to sunset but the associated things are he should abstain from false speech to acquire the benefit, he should abstain from false action, from all the things which are Haraam. These are ancillary things and then he will achieve the objective.
Now that person wants to go to America but what is his objective? Some people may want to go to America to study; it’s a country where you can get education. Some people want to go for sight seeing. Many people, they want to go there for prostitution. Many people want to go there to have drugs; some people to have alcohol. Some people go there to want to go there to homosexuality because America is a country where Homosexuality is legal. So what is the purpose that you want to go there? Some people want to go America to gamble. So one thing is to go to America. What is your objective? So if some people fast not having the objective. Some people may fast to diet. Some people may fast to lose weight. So then they will not achieve all these objective of Taqwa, paradise, forgiveness of sins. They are fasting, they are abstaining from food and drink but the objective is loosing weight.
So if a person wants to go to America for prostitution, for adultery, for gambling, for drinking alcohol, for drugs his main objective won’t be achieved. So what is the objective is important. Some people want to go for education. So we have to realize that all those people who truly know the ancillary associated things along with fasting and if they know the objective which are listed in the first answer, InshaAllah, they have to achieve all of them. If they don’t then as our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
its mentioned in the Hadith of Ibn Maajah Hadith no. 1690 that
“There are many people who fast but they do not get any reward except for hunger. And there are many people who stand up in prayers; their standing is of no benefit except for sleeplessness. Hope thisanswers the question.”
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir. The next then logical question is what exactly are those ancillary associated acts which you’ve spoken about which InshaAllah you are going to furnish us with all the information aside from doing away with the food drink and sexual relations with one’s wife during the day light hours in Ramadhaan which will enable you to achieve the real objectives of fasting.
Dr. Zakir: In short if you want the answer in one sentence, it is obeying the commandments of Allah and His Messenger. If you obey the commandments of Allah and His Rasool all His commandments then InshaAllah, you will be following all the ancillary things. In detail there are hundreds. We listed the major ones. Just a couple of days back when we discussed the topic ‘ Recommended and discouraged acts while fasting’ and if you remember we had discussed 32 points in the topic of recommended acts while fasting and about 29 points in acts which are discouraged while fasting. Both put together are 61 and in all these days we have discussed more then 60 points which are recommended and discouraged. In short if you follow the commandments of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and his messenger, you are doing the associated things.
In short to mention, just to highlight a few more, a few which we had discussed earlier. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said; It’s mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1901 our Prophet said:
That
“Anyone who fasts the complete month for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, for Him and seeking reward from Him, he will have all his sins forgiven”
So first thing is the intention, it should be for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and we should do it to seek the reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Furthermore its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1894, our Prophet said”
“Fasting is a shield”
And the message is repeated, in same
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1904 where our Prophet said
“Fasting is a shield; it will protect you from the hellfire and prevent you from sins”
And our Prophet said it’s mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1903, he said that
“Anyone who does not leave his false actions and false speech, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala doers not require him to leave his food and drink”
Here in this Hadith the major activities which are associated are mentioned in this Hadith
It comes in 2 categories, false speech and false actions.
False speech as we discussed earlier includes back biting, slandering, lying, verbal abuse, vulgar speech, gossiping, rumor mongering.
In false action we have things which people do very often in Ramadhaan is listen to unislamic songs, listen to music, watch unislamic television programmes, unislamic movies, read unislamic magazines, they go to unislamic websites, wastage, extravagance all these come in false activity and as I mentioned earlier in the earlier answer our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said in
Sunan Ibn Maajah (Vol. 3 Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 1690 that
“There are many people who fast but they do not get any reward except for hunger. And many people who stand in Salaah; their standing is useless; they get no reward except for sleeplessness”
And our beloved Prophet also said in Sunan Ibn Maajah (Vol. 5 Book of Piety) Hadith no. 4250 that
“Anyone who asks for forgiveness for the sins he has done it is as though he has not committed that sin”
So this month of Ramadhaan you can ask for forgiveness and InshaAllah Allah will forgive you r sins and
It’s mentioned in Musnad Ahmad (Vol no. 2) Hadith no. 6626 that
“Two things will act as an intercession for you, fasting and the Quran. The fasting will say that this person left his desire of eating, drinking and sex for me so I will intercede for him. And the Quran will say that this person, he kept on reading the Quran and I prevented him from sleeping so I intercede on his behalf”
So Qur’an and fasting will intercede for you on the Day of Judgment and will InshaAllah take you to Jannah.
Yusuf Chambers: MashaAllah, may Allah make it easy for us to really get the maximum benefits of this Ramadhaan and the fasting, InshaAllah. Next question regarding the statement of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala when Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala said trough one of the Hadiths that fasting is for me and I shall reward you for it. What are the implications of this statement from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala?
Dr. Zakir: There are various Sahih Hadith in which our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), says that about the statement which Allah makes, its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1894 as well as Hadith no. 1904, where Allah says that
“All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except from fasting, it is for me”
And it means that all the other acts of worship whether it be Salaah, whether it be Zakat, whether it be Hajj, all these can be done only for show. The person can do for Riya just to show that he is praying, he can give charity for showing like he is giving Zakaat, go for Hajj but as far as fasting is concerned a person can easily go inside the kitchen, inside his room and without anyone seeing, he can easily eat. So if he truly fasts., its only for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, it cannot be for show, it cannot for Riya so that’s the reason Allah says that all the other acts of son of Adam are for himself but fasting is for me. And that’s the reason when this Hadith which is mentioned in
Sunan Nasai in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2223
here a companion of the Prophet, Abu Umama, may Allah be pleased with him, he comes to the Prophet and he asks him that
“Tell me which deed that I can do which will be accepted by Allah which is very dear to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala so Prophet said that you fast, you stick to fasting.”
Amongst all the deeds you stick to fasting.
And that’s the reason in another Hadith of
Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2567 the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“Allah says that all the deeds of the sun of Adam are for himself and every deed that he does, he gets a reward 10 times or up to 700 times but fasting is for me and I will give him the reward. Because he leaves his food, drink and desires for Me.”
So that he says He will give the reward., that means in Fasting it will be much more InshaAllah even more than 700 times. So therefore because it’s only for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, Allah says that I will give the reward. And he hasn’t disclosed but it means that InshaAllah much more than 700 times.
Yusuf Chambers: Beautiful! Lets hope that we get as much as 700 times this Ramadhaan and all other.
Dr. Zakir: Much more than that InshaAllah
Yusuf Chambers: InshaAllah. Next statement you made earlier on from the Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), regarding fasting being like a shield, a protection. Could you enlighten us with a little bit more information about why it is a shield? Why is fasting a shield?
Dr. Zakir: The Prophet said in Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1894, that,
“Fasting is a shield”
The similar message is repeated in Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1904 the Prophet said
“Fasting is a shield; it will protect you from the hellfire and prevent you from doing sins”
The reason our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said this is because that when a person eats and when his stomach is full that’s the time he can think of doing other deeds many of which may be Haraam, which may be wrong but once a person is hungry he doesn’t think of these Haraam things. Only when the tummy is full can you think of doing something. Imagine if you are hungry, if you are really very hungry you will not think of going to a movie, when you are really hungry you won’t think of listening to music, so that’s the reason when a person is hungry, it prevents him from doing the sins. That’s the reason the Prophet said that it is like a shield. And further more our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said
Its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 4 in the Book of Jihad Hadith no. 2840 the beloved Prophet said that
“Anyone who fasts for one day Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will keep the hellfire away from that person for a distance equivalent to 70 years.”
In another Hadith our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said it’s mentioned in a Hadith of
Tirmidhi Book of Jihad Hadith no. 1624 the beloved prophet that
“Anyone who fasts for one day Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will make a trench between him and hellfire whose distance will be equivalent to the distance between the heavens and the earth”
So that’s why when a person fasts it even constricts the pathway of the devil of the satan and that’s the reason it prevents from doing the bad deeds, the false actions, the false speech and that’s why the prophet said it’s a shield.
I would like to give one more example.
Its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1905
The Prophet said that
“All those who have the means to get married, they should get married because it will help them to lower their gaze and guard their modesty. But those who cannot marry, they should fast it will keep them chaste”
That means fasting also prevents you from doing sinful acts of looking at a Na-mehram, it helps you lowering the gaze and prevents you from your mind diverting towards the illegal acts like adultery, fornication. Because imagine if you are really hungry then no one will thinkl of doing these evil acts. That’s the reason the Prophet said fasting is a shield.
Yusuf Chambers: Thank you very much for the answer Dr. Zakir regarding that. Very–very useful information and I am sure that brothers and sisters will take note of that. Dr. Zakir one of the said main objective actually of fasting is the next question, Taqwa. What I understand is the fear of Allah or being aware of Allah but could you explain this concept or the concept of Taqwa so the viewers may take maximum benefit from that information that they can fast better.
Dr. Zakir: As far as Taqwa is concerned just to give u an example. Taqwa is like if you are walking in a very narrow lane which has got a lot of thorns, there are plants, and creepers, and trees there are a lot of thorns and you walk in that narrow lane cant you prevent you clothes from getting stuck in the thorn, and getting torn, so how well you do that, that is the action of taqwa.
Linguistically taqwa comes from the Arabic root word ‘Waqa’ which means forbearance which means fear which means abstinence. Islamically it means fear of Allah. Islamically taqwa is the state of the heart of a human being and the consciousness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. The consciousness of His presence and of His knowledge which makes him do the righteous deeds and it prevents him from doings things which are haraam and makes him pious. That’s the reason taqwa if you translate in one word people translate as God consciousness or Allah’s consciousness its translated as piety, its translated as righteousness in short.
And taqwa actually as our beloved Prophet said it is a shield and taqwa is a shield which prevents you from the hellfire and it prevents you from the punishment of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and there are various verse of the Quran which speak about Taqwa, Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Ale Imran ch. nbo. 3 verse no. 102
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo”
That
“O you believe, have taqwa of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and die not except in the state of Islam”
That means the believers should fear Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and die not except as in the state of Islam.
And Ibn Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, while giving commentary of this verse he says it means that the believers have to obey Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and should not disobey him. They have to remember Him, they should not forget Him, they should be thankful to Him and they should not be ungrateful and the criteria for judgment in the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for judging any human being it is Taqwa.
And Allah says in Surah Hujuraat ch. no. 49 verse no. 13
“Ya ayyuha alnnasu inna khalaqnakum min thakarin waontha wajaAAalnakum shuAAooban waqaba-ila litaAAarafoo inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum inna Allaha AAaleemun khabeer”
Which means
“O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female and have divided you into nations and tribes so that you shall recognize each other not that you shall despise each other. And the most honored in the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the person who has Taqwa”
The criteria for judgment in the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, its not sex, its not color, its not caste, its not money, its not wealth, its not age but it is Taqwa, it is God consciousness, it is piety, it is righteousness. Only way one human being can be superior to the other, it is by Taqwa.
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), (Musnad Ahmad Vol no. 5 Hadith no. 22240)
He used to always encourage the Sahaba and he always gave guidance to his companions that they should increase in Taqwa and especially when they went on a military expiation they always said that fear Allah, have Taqwa and that was followed later on by the Sahabas in giving advice and the Khulafa Rashideen and we also have a Hadith of Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he told his son Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, that
“Have Taqwa and fear Allah and he said you fear Allah and He will protect you”
“Have Taqwa of Allah and he will protect you and he further said that if you give in the way of Allah, Allah will reward you and if you thank Allah, He will increase.”
Here we realize that there are many verses in the Quran which Allah gives us guidance about Taqwa. For example Allah says that taqwa is the criteria for a person to acquire righteousness and Allah to accept your deeds.
Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Ahzaab ch. no. 33 verse n o. 70 and 71
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo”
“O you who believe, have Taqwa of Allah, fear Allah and those who obey Allah and His messenger, they are the people who will achieve a great reward they have reached a higher achievement.”
Allah gives a similar message in
Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 27 where Allah says that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala accepts the acts of Mutaqoon, those who fear Allah”
That means Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala accepts the deeds of the people who have Taqwa..
Point no. 2 those people who have Taqwa, they gain the pleasure and love of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala as Allah says in
Surah Hujuraat ch. no. 49 verse no. 13 that
“The most honored in the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the person who has Taqwa”
Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 76.
“Whoever fulfills his pledge and has Taqwa in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. In deed Allah loves those who are Mutaqoon, Allah loves those who have Taqwa.”
The third point as far as Taqwa is concerned, Allah says in the Quran that because of Taqwa Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala forgives your sins and He increases your reward.
Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Talaq ch. no. 65 verse no. 5 that
“Anyone who fulfills his duty and has Taqwa, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala forgives his sins. He remits his sins and He increases the reward”
The fourth point mentioned in the Quran regarding the Taqwa is those who have Taqwa Allah keeps them on a straight path and prevents them from deviation.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Quran in
Surah Anfal ch. no. 8 verse no. 29
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo”
“O you who believe! Have Taqwa and Allah will give you the Furqan”
Furqan means the criteria to judge right from wrong, and there are various commentaries given some people said that Furqaan means that the straight path. Some people of the commentators said that Furqaan means paradise.
So if you have Taqwa then you will go to paradise. Further it is mentioned in the Quran,
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Hadid ch. no. 57 verse no. 28 that
“Those who have Taqwa and those who believe in the messenger, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala gives them a light by which they are guided.”
So taqwa keeps you on a straight path and prevents you from deviation.
How to achieve this Taqwa?
Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 21
“Ya ayyuha alnnas”
“O humankind worship thy Lord who has created you and created those people who came before you so that you may learn Taqwa”
So if you worship your Lord who created you and people who came before you, you will learn Taqwa.
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse no. 183
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alssiyamu”
“Fasting has been prescribed to you”
“kama kutiba AAala allatheena min qablikum”
“As it was prescribed to people who came before you”
“laAAallakum tattaqoon”
“So that you may learn self restraint”
The word here ‘tattaqoon’ so that you may learn Taqwa. So here there are 2 examples given, how can you learn Taqwa?
One example is to worship Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and we know Salaah is the best pillar that a Muslim is suppose to offer Salaah, he has to pray to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala 5 times a day. And this keeps him on a straight path and this increases his taqwa.
And the second thing, one is a daily activity and Ramadhaan fasting is the annual activity. Like how a body requires overhauling once every year. Every machine requires servicing some require once, some require quarterly, some require yearly. And if you allow me to call the human being a machine, it is the most complicated machine ever on the earth. Don’t you think we require servicing? So Ramadhaan is the over hauling, is the servicing of the human body, body as well as soul once a year during the month of Ramadhaan. And this increases the Taqwa, it increases your God consciousness, righteousness, piety as we discussed in all these days.
And I’d like to give you an example. There was a Sahaba, when Ramadhaan was coming Makkah used to be very hot so he was traveling towards Taif just a couple of days before Ramadhaan. And there was a Bedouin who is traveling in the opposite direction from Taif to Makkah so this Sahaba asked him that aren’t you afraid of the heat in Makkah during Ramadhaan? So he says I am running away from the hellfire. So that was his Taqwa.
So that gives you an example of Taqwa. Who is most righteous?
Allah says inSurah Hajj ch. No. 22 verse no. 32
“Whoever honors the symbols of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, he is the person who has Taqwa”
Allah further says in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 204 that
“You may be dazzled by some people’s speech and they may sweera by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that their heart is clean but Allah knows that these people are vicious enemies of humankind”
Allah says in the Quran talking about ‘auliyas’ the friends of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, Allah says in
Surah Yunus ch. no. 10 verse no. 62 and 63 that
“These people who have Taqwa are the people who are Auliyas of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala”
Auliyas means friend of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. That means those people who have taqwa or fear A Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and love Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala these are the people who are Auliyas of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Allah further says in
Surah Anfal ch. no. 8 verse no. 34, Allah says
“But most of them realize not”
So these are the few verse and many other verses which Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala speaks about Taqwa in the Quran.
Yusuf Chambers: May Allah enable us to be with full Taqwa this Ramadhaan, InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: Aameen.
Yusuf Chambers: All of us, InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: Aameen.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, how can fasting enable us to enter paradise, the Jannah?
Dr. Zakir: As far as fasting being a way to paradise, as We mentioned earlier Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 183
“laAAallakum tattaqoon”
So that you may learn self restraint that means you ma get Taqwa and Taqwa will be your way to paradise.
Therefore Allah says in the next verse Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 184
“Fasting is better for you if you knew it”
That means it is better to fast.
And Allah says in Surah Ahzaab ch. no. 33 verse no. 35
“Inna almuslimeena waalmuslimati”
“For Muslim men and women”
“waalmu/mineena waalmu/minati”
“For believing men and women”
“waalqaniteena waalqanitati”
“For devout men and women”
“waalssadiqeena waalssadiqati”
“For true men and women”
“waalssabireena waalssabirati”
“For men and women and women who are patient”
“waalkhashiAAeena waalkhashiAAati”
“For men and women who humble themselves”
“waalmutasaddiqeena waalmutasaddiqati”
“For men and women who give in charity”
“waalssa-imeena waalssa-imati”
“For men and women who fast”
“waalhafitheena furoojahum waalhafithati”
“For men and women who guard their chastity”
“waalththakireena Allaha katheeran waalththakirati”
For men and women who engage much in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala’s praises
“aAAadda Allahu lahum maghfiratan waajran AAatheema”
“For them Allah has prepared forgiveness and ample of reward”
This reward is Jannah. So all these people Allah is talking about those who submit their will to Allah, those who believe, those who are devout, those who are true, those who offer Salaah, those who pay Zakaat, those who fast in the month of Ramadhaan, those who observe chastity, those who praise Allah, all these people, Allah has promised them paradise.
So this verse also talks about paradise. And it’s mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of
Musnad Ahmad Vol. no. 1 Hadith no. 1661, our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“A woman who prays her 5 times Salaah and fasts and observes her chastity and obeys the husband, she will enter paradise”
And there is a Hadith of Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), Hadith of
Tirmidhi in the Book of Supplications Hadith no. 3545,
“Once Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he climbs on a Mimbar and he says Aameen, Aameen, Aameen thrice. So the Sahabas, they ask him that why have you said Aameen? So he says that Archangel Gabriel, he had come to him and he was saying that the person who does not have his sins forgiven in the month of Ramadhaan then it is very sad for him and he shall not enter paradise. Say “Aameen”. Archangel Gabriel tells to Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) say Aameen so Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) repeats Aameen thrice.
Further there is a Hadith its mentioned in
Sahih Ibn Hibbaan in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 3438 where
“A person approaches the Prophet and tells him that I worship none but Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and I believe that Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), is the messenger of Allah, I pray 5 times a day, I give Zakaat and I fast in the month of Ramadhaan and I stand in prayer. Who will I be amongst? What will be my reward? The Prophet said that you will be amongst the followers of the Prophet and the martyrs”
That means you will go to Jannah. Further there is a Hadith which is mentioned in
Book of Tirmidhi (Book of Faith) Hadith no. 2616
“A person comes and asks the Prophet that what act should I do by which I can go to Jannah. So the Prophet says that this is a very difficult thing to do. But for whom Allah wants to make easy, it’s very easy. He should believe and worship only one God and should not associate any partners with All Mighty God and believe in the messenger. He should pray 5 times a day, he should give Zakaat, he should fast and he should perform Hajj. And this person will InshaAllah will go to Jannah.”
There is another Hadith which is mentioned in
Musnad Ahmad (Vol 5 Hadith 22249) also repeated in
Sunan Nasai(Book of Fasting ch. 43 Hadith 2221) as well as
Sahih Jaami (Vol no. 2) Hadith no. 4044 where
“Abu Ummama, may Allah be pleased with him, he comes to the Prophet and asks that what act should I do that will take me to paradise? So the Prophet said you fast, there is nothing like it”
So one act that will take a person to Jannah, the Prophet said fast, there is nothing like it.
And further its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1899 the Prophet said that
“During the month of Ramadhaan the gates of heaves, they are open and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained”
And the Prophet also said in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1896 where it says that
“In the heaven there is a gate by the name of Ray’yaan and only those people will pass through this gate who has fasted. And those who have not fasted, they will not pass through this gate. And Allah will say on that day that all those who have fasted stand up and the people who have fasted will stand up and they will enter through this gate. And after that the gate will close. And all those who have not fasted will not be allowed to enter through this gate.”
So if you fast you will go to paradise and you will enter through the gate of Ray’yaan.
Yusuf Chambers: May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala allow us to enter the gate of Ray’yaan and to go to the Jannatul Firdaus, InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, we have reached the stage where we’ve finished our individual interview and I would like to pose some questions from the audience regarding the topic. Is that okay?
Dr. Zakir: Sure, InshaAllah.
Yusuf Chambers: From the audience, from our Peace TV viewers we have received so many hundreds and hundreds of emails on the topic ‘Objectives of Fasting’. First question, why do some Muslims abstain from sins only during the month of Ramadhaan? You know, whilst they are fasting and after the month of Ramadhaan, and the other eleven months we see them lying, cheating, stealing and doing many of the other terrible sins unfortunately. May Allah protect us from those sins, Aameen. Why is it so? Why do those people…? What possesses these people to do those acts during the eleven months and not this one month?
Dr. Zakir: The reason this is same as I mentioned earlier that we should know the objective of fasting. If you know the objective of fasting, InshaAllah, even after Ramadhaan is over, the person will yet be on the straight path. As I mentioned in my example that you should know the method of the act and the objective. So people may know the method how to eat food, they make a morsel of the food put it in the mouth, masticate it, chew it and put it down the throat so the act, the method they know very well. That’s what they do in the month of Ramadhaan but after that if someone puts a finger ion his throat and vomits out so that food will not make him healthy. So that’s what is happening. The main purpose, objective they don’t know. The objective is to increase the taqwa, to make a person come closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. So if that is there in the mind so even after the month of fasting is gone yet the person will be on the straight path because they don’t remember the objective, come closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and once your sins are forgiven, if you repent truly, one of the criteria for repentance is that besides saying that what you have done is wrong asking for forgiveness, stopping it also saying that you will not do it again. So if he asks for forgiveness n the right way, they will not go back to the old bad habits.
So they follow all these rules and regulations then InshaAllah even after Ramadhaan goes away, they will be on the straight path for the full year like how we have to pray 5 times a day top be on the straight path, Ramadhaan once the month is overhauling of the full body the mind and the soul also so once a year is sufficient if you know how to do it correctly.
Yusuf Chambers: Very good answer and lets hope if we can get much closer to Allah in this month, InshaAllah. Question 2, there are Muslims who continue to lie in their profession may be I think who are probably a lawyer or something like that. Not lawyer, liar and even in the month of Ramadhaan whilst fasting. What’s the advice to that type of person? Does this effect their fasting?
Dr. Zakir: As far as a person lying does it affect or not, our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), has said its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fating Hadith no. 1903 that
“A person who does not leave his false action and false speech, Allah does not require him to leave his food and drink”
That means if you lie the whole basic purpose of fasting is defeated but will the fast be accepted? Yes, it will be accepted. It may not benefit him the fast will be accepted, his reward may be diminished or he will yet get the sin of lying.
To give you an example for example someone who wants to do wudu, he can’t find water and he robs the water and he does wudu will his wudu be accepted? Yes, wudu will be accepted but the act of robbing is wrong, act of robbing is wrong but the wudu is accepted similarly in fasting, telling a lie is haraam while fasting but the fast will be accepted this is theoretically but practically the reward he may not get.
Similarly a person doesn’t have money to go for Hajj and he robs the money or he does a business which is illegal he maybe dealing in Riba and he does Hajj and if he follows all the Arkaans of Hajj, his hajj will be accepted but the act of acquiring the money was wrong whether it was robbing or whether it was dealing with Riba so similarly here theoretically his fast will be accepted, he has completed his fast what he has to do but his reward will be diminished and his points will be deducted and he will get the negative points for lying.
Yusuf Chambers: Actually intention needs to be in line with Quran and Sunnah. Dr. Zakir we are running out of time I am afraid we have got so many questions that we need to answer. Ah.. but we will answer those, we will endeavor to answer those later on in the series InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair once again for your excellent answers.
Dr. Zakir: Wa eeya kum
Yusuf Chambers: to the many-many questions the brothers and sisters had and of course our fruitful interview earlier on regarding the topic ‘Objectives of Fasting’ Thank you very much. JazakAllah Khair.
Brothers and sisters we have reached the end of the show, we haven’t reached the end of the series ‘Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir’. We will be back with you tomorrow at the same time when we will be discussing the topic ‘Benefits of Fasting’ so please so join us then.
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!