8. Book of Virtues

٨۔ كتاب الفضائل

8.37 Virtues of Fasting During Ramadan

٨۔٣٧ باب وجوب صوم رمضان وبيان فضل الصيام وما يتعلق به:

Allah, the Most High, said: "O believers, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you..." until His statement: "The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, and with clear proofs of guidance and the Criterion. So whoever witnesses the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let him make up˺ an equal number of other days." (Baqarah 2:183-185)

As for the ahadith, they have been discussed in the preceding section.

قَالَ الله تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ﴾ إِلَى قَوْله تَعَالَى: ﴿شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدىً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ﴾ الآية [البقرة: ١٨٣- ١٨٥]

وَأما الأحاديث فقد تقدمت في الباب الَّذِي قبله

Reward for fasting is up to Allah and its several other virtues

(1215a) bukhari:1904Ibrāhīm b. Mūsá > Hishām b. Yūsuf > Ibn Jurayj > ʿAṭāʾ > Abū Ṣāliḥ al-Zayyāt > Abū Hurayrah

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.'

"Fasting is a shield (protection from the Hellfire and from committing sins). If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say: I am fasting."

"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk."

"There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."  

(١٢١٥a) البخاري:١٩٠٤حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ الزَّيَّاتِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ يَقُولُ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ۔»

«وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ لِلصَّائِمِ۔»

«فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ۔»  

Reward for fasting is up to Allah for the servant restrains himself from his bodily desires

(1215b) bukhari:1894ʿAbdullāh b. Maslamah > Mālik > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting."

The Prophet ﷺ added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."  

(١٢١٥b) البخاري:١٨٩٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ: فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ، وَلاَ يَجْهَلْ؛ وَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ قَاتَلَهُ أَوْ شَاتَمَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ مَرَّتَيْنِ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ: يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ، وَشَرَابَهُ، وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي؛ الصِّيَامُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا۔»  

Reward for fasting is far greater than other good deeds

(1215c) muslim:1151e[Chain 1] Abū Bakr b. Abū Shaybah > Abū Muʿāwiyah And Wakīʿ > al-Aʿmash [Chain 2] Zuhayr b. Ḥarb > Jarīr > al-Aʿmash [Chain 3] Abū Saʿīd al-Ashaj > Wakīʿ > al-Aʿmash > Abū Ṣāliḥ > Abū Hurayrah > Qāl

Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake.

There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.  

(١٢١٥c) مسلم:١١٥١eوَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ وَوَكِيعٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ۔ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ: إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ: فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ: يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ، وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي۔»

«لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ؛ وَلَخُلُوفُ فِيهِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ۔»  

(1216) bukhari:1897Ibrāhīm b. al-Mundhir > Maʿn > Mālik > Ibn Shihāb > Ḥumayd b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Abū Hurayrah > Rasūl

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever gives two kinds (of things or property) in charity for Allah's Cause, will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, 'O slaves of Allah! Here is prosperity.' So, (1) whoever was amongst the people who used to offer their prayers, will be called from the gate of the prayer; and (2) whoever was amongst the people who used to participate in Jihad, will be called from the gate of Jihad; and (3) whoever was amongst those who used to observe fasts, will be called from the gate of al-Rayyan; and (4) whoever was amongst those who used to give in charity, will be called from the gate of charity."

Abu Bakr said, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! No distress or need will befall him who will be called from those gates. Will there be any one who will be called from all these gates?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Yes, and I hope you will be one of them."  

(١٢١٦) البخاري:١٨٩٧حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَعْنٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ نُودِيَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، هَذَا خَيْرٌ۔ (١) فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّلاَةِ، (٢) وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجِهَادِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الْجِهَادِ، (٣) وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّيَامِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الرَّيَّانِ، (٤) وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّدَقَةِ۔»

فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا عَلَى مَنْ دُعِيَ مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ مِنْ ضَرُورَةٍ۔ فَهَلْ يُدْعَى أَحَدٌ مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ كُلِّهَا؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ۔»  

al-Rayyan: the entrance gate of Jannah exclusively for those who fast

(1217) bukhari:1896Khālid b. Makhlad > Sulaymān b. Bilāl > Abū Ḥāzim > Sahl

The Prophet ﷺ said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."  

(١٢١٧) البخاري:١٨٩٦حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو حَازِمٍ عَنْ سَهْلٍ ؓ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ: يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؛ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ؛ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ؟ فَيَقُومُونَ؛ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ۔ فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ۔»  

One who fasts a single day is distanced from Hellfires at a distance of seventy years

(1218a) muslim:1153aMuḥammad b. Rumḥ b. al-Muhājir > al-Layth > Ibn al-Hād > Suhayl b. Abū Ṣāliḥ > al-Nuʿmān b. Abū ʿAyyāsh > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance.  

(١٢١٨a) مسلم:١١٥٣aوَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحِ بْنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ أَخْبَرَنِي اللَّيْثُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا۔»  

One who fasts a single day is distanced from Hellfires at a distance of seventy years

(1218b) bukhari:2840Isḥāq b. Naṣr > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Ibn Jurayj > Yaḥyá b. Saʿīd And Suhayl b. Abū Ṣāliḥ > al-Nuʿmān b. Abū ʿAyyāsh > Abū Saʿīd

I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years."  

(١٢١٨b) البخاري:٢٨٤٠حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ وَسُهَيْلُ بْنُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ؓ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا۔»  

All sins forgiven for the one who sincerely fasts Ramadan

(1219) bukhari:38Ibn Salām > Muḥammad b. Fuḍayl > Yaḥyá b. Saʿīd > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven."  

(١٢١٩) البخاري:٣٨حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ سَلاَمٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ  

Doors of Mercy remain open while doors of Hellfire remain closed during Ramadan

(1220a) muslim:1079aYaḥyá b. Ayyūb And Qutaybah And Ibn Ḥujr > Ismāʿīl Wahū Ibn Jaʿfar > Abū Suhayl from his father > Abū Hurayrah

When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained,  

(١٢٢٠a) مسلم:١٠٧٩aحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ وَقُتَيْبَةُ وَابْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ  

Doors of Jannah remain open during Ramadan

(1220b) bukhari:1898Qutaybah > Ismāʿīl b. Jaʿfar > Abū Suhayl from his father > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened."  

(١٢٢٠b) البخاري:١٨٩٨حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ  

The beginning and ending of the Ramadan is based on the moon

(1221a) bukhari:1909Ādam > Shuʿbah > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah

that the Prophet ﷺ said or he said Abū al-Qasim said, "˹Start˺ fasting ˹the month˺ upon seeing it (the moon), and break ˹fasting the month˺ upon seeing it. If it is hidden for you (as a result of an overcast at the start of the month), then complete thirty days of Shaʿbān."  

(١٢٢١a) البخاري:١٩٠٩حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ؛ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ؛ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ؛ قَالَ؛ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ يَقُولُ

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَوْ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ «صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُبِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلاَثِينَ۔»  

Fast thirty days of Ramadan if one is unable to see the moon

(1221b) muslim:1081aYaḥyá b. Yaḥyá > Ibrāhīm b. Saʿd > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab > Abū Hurayrah

Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. and when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.  

(١٢٢١b) مسلم:١٠٨١aحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَصُومُوا ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا