The Fast of Ramadan:
The fast of Ramadan, according to the Qur'an, sunnah and consensus, is
obligatory. The evidence from the Qur'an consists of the following two
verses: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for the people before you in order for you to gain God
consciousness, and, "...The month of Ramadan, during which the Qur'an
was
revealed, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and
the
criterion; and whoever of you is resident, let him fast the month"
[al-Baqarah 185].
From the sunnah we have the following statements of the Prophet: "Islam
is
built upon [the following] five pillars: testifying that there is no
God
except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of
the
prayer, the giving of zakah, the fast of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to
Makkah." Talhah ibn 'Ubaidullah reported that a man came to the Prophet
and said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me what Allah requires of me as
regards fasting." He answered, "The month of Ramadan." The man asked:
"Is
there any other [fast]?" The Prophet answered: "No, unless you do so
voluntarily." The whole Muslim nation agrees that the fast of Ramadan
is
obligatory. It is one of the pillars of Islam, and if one disputes
this,
he cannot be called a Muslim.l
The Virtues of Ramadan and the Deeds Done During It:
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: "The
blessed month has come to you. Allah has made fasting during it
obligatory
upon you. During it, the gates to Paradise are opened and the gates to
hellfire are locked, and the devils are chained. There is a night
[during
this month] which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived
of
its good is really deprived [of something great]." This is related by
Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Baihaqi.
'Arfajah testifies to this: "We were with 'Utbah ibn Farqad while he
was
discussing Ramadan. A companion of the Prophet entered upon the scene.
When 'Utbah saw him, he became shy and stopped talking. The man [the
companion] spoke about Ramadan, saying: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah
say during Ramadan: "The gates of Hell are closed, the gates of
Paradise
are opened, and the devils are in chains. An angel calls out: 'O you
who
intend to do good deeds, have glad tidings. O you who intend to do
evil,
refrain, until Ramadan is completed.'"
Muslim relates that Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet saying: "The time
between the five prayers, two consecutive Friday prayers, and two
consecutive Ramadans are expiations for all that has happened during
that
period, provided that one has avoided the grave sins."
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace,
said:
"Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, obeying all of its limitations and
guarding himself against what is forbidden, has in fact atoned for any
sins he committed before it." Ahmad and alBaihaqi related this hadith
with
a good chain.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:
"Whoever
fasts the month of Ramadan with faith and seeks Allah's pleasure and
reward will have his previous sins forgiven." This hadith is related by
Ahmad and the compilers of the sunan.
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