Fasting is
a type of wroship that draws one closer to Allah.
Allah has prescribed it to purify the soul and to
train it in good deeds. The fasting person must
be on guard against any act that may cause him to
lose the benefits of his fast. Thus, his fast
will increase his God-consciousness, and Allah
says in the Qur'an "O you who believe,
fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you so perchance you
may attain God-consciousness." 2:183
Fasting is
not just refraining from eating and drinking, but
it is also refraining from everything esle that
Allah has forbidden. Abu Hurairah radi Allahu
anhu reported that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam said "Fasting is not abstaining
from eating and drinking only, but also from vain
speech and foul language. If one of you is being
cursed or annoyed, he should say "I am
fasting, I am fasting." [related by Ibn
khuzaimah, Ibn Habban, and al Hakim/ sahih]
Abu
Hurairah radi Allahu anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said
"Allah does not need the fast of one who
does not abandon false speech or acting according
to his false speech." [related by the group,
except for Muslim]
Abu
Hurairah radi Allahu anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said
"Perhasp a fasting person will get nothing
from his fast save hunger, and perhaps one who
stands to pray at night will get nothing from his
standing except sleeplessness." [an-Nasa'i,
Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim/ sahih]
BEING
GENEROUS AND STUDYING THE QUR'AN
Being
generous and studying the Qur'an is recommended
during any time, but it is especially stressed
during the month of Ramadan. Bukhari reported
that Ibn Abbas said "Rasulullah was the most
generous of all people, but he would be his most
generous during Ramadan when he would meet with
angel Gabriel." He would meet with him every
night and recite Qur'an. When Gabriel met him, he
used to be more generous than a fast wind."
STRIVING
TO PERFORM AS MANY ACTS OF WORSHIP AS POSSIBLE
DURING THE LAST TEN DAYS OF RAMADAN
Bukhari
and Muslim record from A'ishah that during the
last ten days of Ramadan, Rasulullah would wake
his wives up during the night and then remain
apart from them [that is being busy in the act of
worship]. A version from Muslim states "He
would strive to do acts of worship during the
last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at
any other time. [at-Tirmidhi also recorded this
from 'Ali]