Excerpts from Maqasid us-Sawm by Imam ‘Izz ad-Din (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ)
The Author
He is Abu Muhammad ‘Izz ad-Din ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam ibn Abi al-Qasim al-Sulami. He was of Moroccan origin but born in Damascus. However, he later resided in Egypt and passed away there in 577 AH (1181 CE) or 578 AH (1182 CE). He was Shafi’i in madhab (a jurisprudential school of law) and is nicknamed “Sultan al-‘Ulama”. He was declared to be a Mujtahid (someone capable of deriving Islamic rulings independently, and the highest level of scholarship one can achieve).
Al-Hafiz ibn Hajar (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) said,
“He was of lofty aspirations whose understanding penetrated the depth of knowledge. He taught, gave legal verdicts and authored books, and he excelled at all that, such that he was described as having reached the level of ijtihad. He trained a number of Scholars to mastery. He would always stand for good, fearing in that neither old nor young. And, he was an ascetic, abstinent, scrupulous and a polymath.”
Ibn Kathir (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) said,
“Leadership in the madhab returned to him. He was sought out for legal verdicts from every corner of the Earth. However, at the end of his life, he did not restrict himself to the madhhab. Rather, he was more open and gave verdicts according to his own ijtihad.”
May Allah ﷻ accept his efforts and enter him into the highest levels of Paradise. Ameen.
The Obligation of Fasting
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.
(Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 183)
The meaning of تَتَّقُونَ here is related to the concept of Taqwa which is defined as saving yourself from the anger of Allah ﷻ.
The author also mentions the hadith of the five pillars as below:
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ: ” بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ”. [رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ]، [وَمُسْلِمٌ]
On the authority of Abdullah, the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
The five pillars are very important as excelling in the foundations and in what is obligatory is what draws a person the closest to Allah ﷻ (although the Sunnah and optional acts should not be underestimated either). This is evidenced by the hadith below:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا، فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ، كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ” [رواه البخاري]
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘I will declare war against him who treats with hostility a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary prayers or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) until I love him, (so much so that) I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me something, I will surely give him, and if he seeks My Protection (refuge), I will surely protect him”. [Bukhari]
If you fast across the month, just maintaining the fact that you obey Allah ﷻ and keep your fast pure, then Insha’Allah, that is a good fast.
The Virtues and Benefits of Fasting
Better Than Salah?
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ” يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: الصَّوْمُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَأَكْلَهُ وَشُرْبَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، وَالصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ: فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ، وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ، وَلَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ” [رواه البخاري]
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: Fasting is Mine and it is I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah’s estimation than the smell of musk. [Bukhari]
The hadith mentions a form of Idafah tashreef wa takreem, i.e. Allah ﷻ associates fasting to Himself as a form of veneration. It is also an evidence used by some scholars who said that the best act of worship is fasting, even better than Salah. This is because fasting is something purely between you and Allah ﷻ, and there is no riya (showing off). This lends to its great maqam (rank) and allows you to excel in your sincerity, and in doing so, the act of fasting could be better than someone giving thousands in charity or praying all day and night. It is quality over quantity.
Break Your Desires
Moreover, another reason for the high rank of the fasting person is due the leaving of pleasure and food for Allah ﷻ’s sake. When we have a potent desire (for e.g. the desire of eating or of intimacy), and we restrain it, this has a high reward because we are restraining from the haram as well as the halal. Thus, Allah ﷻ decides the reward based on how much we restrain ourselves. It can also be learned from this hadith, that one of the greatest benefits of fasting is learning how to say no to yourself. The importance of fasting in aiding in breaking one’s desires is further conveyed by other narrations from the Prophet ﷺ such as when he addressed a group of young Muslims saying, “Whoever among you can marry, should marry…whoever is not able to marry, should fast” (Bukhari). Thus, fasting helps develops restraint. It is also reported that “Shaytaan flows through the human being like the flowing of blood” (Muslim), so we must try to trap him with hunger.
Furthermore, regarding the hadith’s mention of the “two joys” – the first is because of the tawfiq (divine success) given to the fasting person by Allah ﷻ and the completing of an obligation, whilst the second is because they will see the reward of their fasting on the Day of Judgment.
A Special Door – Just for You
وعَنْ سَهْلٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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” [متفق عليه]
Narrated Sahl (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet ﷺ said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan, 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.” [Agreed Upon by Bukhari & Muslim]
The above hadith shows that the act of fasting gets a special door of its own in Jannah. In addition, it is also reported that the angels also descend down and make Du’a for the fasting person, i.e. do “Salah” for them (Tirmidhi). It is important to note however, that we, nor the Prophet ﷺ, can enter Jannah except with Allah ﷻ’s Mercy (Bukhari & Muslim). The point of doing good deeds though, is related to the rank/level you obtain in Jannah, and the difference between each level is tremendous.
Get Your Sins Forgiven
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ” [متفق عليه]
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ لَمَّا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتُنِبَتِ الْكَبَائِر” [رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ]
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” [Muslim]
These ahadith are sufficient in explaining this point.
Motivation in Giving
Whilst fasting, one should try to increase in giving charity. This is because we are naturally more generous whilst fasting due to our remembrance of those who are hungry and needy. The author mentions that it is reported that Prophet Sulaiman (AS) would never eat unless those around him had eaten.
In addition, it is reported from the Prophet ﷺ that, “Whoever helps break the fast of a fasting person, he will have the same reward as him without decreasing anything from the reward of the fasting person”. Thus, the author mentions that it can be ascertained that feeding 36 people gets you reward for the whole year due to the fact that each good deed carries at least 10 rewards – as is reported across multiple narrations – and feeding 36 people would equate to 360 rewards, making up the whole lunar year plus a few extra days.
Motivation in Worship
When you remember your hunger and thirst, you will remember the hunger and the thirst that is part of the punishment for the people of the Hellfire.
Learn the Meaning of True Shukr (Gratitude) to Allah ﷻ
You only know the value of something when you lose it. When we lose food and drink, it helps us appreciate the small and mundane things in our life that we usually look over.
Protection from Evil and Disobedience
One’s inclination towards evil and disobedience is increased when their stomach is satisfied as their concern is not about survival, so they have the luxury of thinking about other things. However, during hunger, one’s thoughts about food and drink and bare survival occupy the mind, leaving no room to think about sins.
Attain Good Health
The author mentions a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ “Fast and you will become healthy” and while it is classed as weak, the meaning is correct. The benefits of fasting on one’s health are numerous and are well documented in works such as Al-Tibb al-Nabawi (The Prophetic Medicine) by Ibn al-Qayyim (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ), in addition to modern scientific research.
The Etiquettes and Manners of Fasting
Fasting with Your Tongue and Your Actions
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابه” [رواه البخاري]
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.”
Some scholars such as Imam al-Awzai’ (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) took this literally and said that the fast would actually be broken because of backbiting.
Invitations to Eat and Breaking the Fast
If you are called to food and you are fasting then you should say you are fasting.
When breaking the fast, you should recite the appropriate Du’as ( such as the ones found in Hisn al-Muslim). It is also Sunnah to break the fast with dates, and if there are no dates, then water (Timidhi).
Note: Of course, these actions are not obligatory, but following the Sunnah is the best way you can do something.
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Surah ale-Imran, Verse 31)
Sometimes following the Sunnah may seem difficult or tiresome, however, it is important to note that a lot of following the Sunnah or doing good deeds in general is mind over matter. With the Deen, it is the tawfiq from Allah ﷻ and some effort from ourselves, but ultimately, this is all achievable and will bring barakah (blessing) overall.
Eating Suhoor
The Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) is reported to be a blessed meal and it is highly encouraged to eat it (Nasa’i). It should generally be delayed as much as possible until before time of Fajr. Conversely, the Iftar (meal to break the fast) should not be delayed and should be done as quickly or immediately after the time of Maghrib as possible (Ibn Hibban)
The reason for this is because it is a Sunnah, but also because it goes contrary to the practice of the Christians and Jews (Abu Dawud) as they would wait for a particular time past the time of Maghrib to break their fast. Furthermore, it is reported with a good chain of narration, that Prophet ﷺ said that Allah ﷻ loves those who break their fast quickly (Timidhi).
Things To Avoid Whilst Fasting
- Avoid continuous fasting – It is reported that some of the Companions tried to do this with the intention of emulating the Prophet ﷺ (as he would occasionally fast continuously) but were prohibited by the Prophet ﷺ who stated that Allah ﷻ would feed him and quench his thirst (Bukhari & Muslim). This could be taken literally, however, some scholars said that it wasn’t physical eating and drinking but the fuel was his closeness to Allah ﷻ so that he didn’t feel like eating, similar to how when you’re doing something with such focus, you forget to even have lunch. Thus, worship gave him the energy and fuel throughout the day.
- Avoiding kissing whilst fasting – However, this depends on the ability of one’s control of his desires and one’s age.
- Avoid hijama (cupping) – This is disliked if it makes you feel weak, as you want to maintain your strength for the fast.
- Avoiding kohl (eyeliner made of antimony) – At the time of the Prophet ﷺ it was considered a medicine for the eye in addition to its fashionable effect. However, according to some, it is disliked to apply as you’re entering it into the eye. The author mentions that it should be avoided because of the difference of opinion of scholars.
- Avoiding exaggerating in blowing one’s nose and gargling water in Wudu – This is because it may lead to the accidental swallowing of water.
The Night of Power (Laylat ul-Qadr)
Laylat ul-Qadr was the night the Qur’an was revealed. It is named so due to its magnanimity. It is also the night when the decree of Allah ﷻ descends (meaning it would be this night in which a person’s sustenance, lifespan, and other critical matters would be sealed for the coming year). The angels descend on this night and give salaam to the ones in Qiyaam ul-Layl (the Night Prayer).
With regards to when exactly Layat ul-Qadr is, there are many opinions such that Ibn Hajar (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) mentions 40 opinions on when the night is. The author states that it is the 21st night as per a hadith, however, there are ahadith for other nights also (as mentioned previously, the author was a Shafi’i in madhab and this is in line with the opinion of the Imam). Imam Abu Hanifa (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) is reported to have said that it could be any day of the year, whilst Imam an-Nawawi (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) is reported to have said that the night moves every year. Ibn Rajab (رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ) reportedly collated all the opinions.
However, the overall message in essence is to be ready for any of the last 10 nights and to recite the Du’a below which is recommended by the Prophet ﷺ specifically for this night (Tirmidhi).
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni.
“O Allah, You are pardoning. You love to forgive, so forgive me.“
This aligns with one of the main concerns of Ramadan which is to achieve forgiveness and to go to Allah ﷻ with a broken heart. If you were to focus on purely on remembering and praising Allah ﷻ, He would give you better than those who ask, i.e. make Du’a (and the best remembrance is to read the Qur’an).
I’tikaaf (Seclusion in the Mosque), Generosity, and the Recitation of the Qur’an
The idea of i’tikaaf is to seclude yourself in the mosque. This may not be possible for those who work so try to reduce socialising and spend some private time at night as opposed to going for Taraweeh at the mosque. The author says i’tikaaf is like visiting Allah ﷻ’s house which will mean that He will honour you more than anyone else, just as you would honour a guest who visits you more than someone else. It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ would do i’tikaaf in the last 10 nights and avoid intimacy (as mentioned by various narrators)
The author mentions it is also recommended to increase in your recitation of the Qur’an and to increase in generosity, regardless of whether you are in i’tikaaf or not. This is because some people are unable to beg due to their state of fasting.
The author also mentions that during Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ would meet Jibreel (AS) regularly and he would revise the Qur’an with him. Therefore, we should also try regularly to meet our scholars and people of knowledge just as the Prophet ﷺ would meet Jibreel (AS) who was his teacher. In addition, the author mentions that when he would meet Jibreel (AS), he would be more pleasant than a pleasant breeze. Ramadan and his daily meeting with Jibreel (AS) would make him so pleasant that everybody could see that effect on him ﷺ. Thus, the time we spend with the Qur’an should have a extra pleasant and good effect on us that others can see. Give the feeling to others that you are the pleasant breeze passing by as opposite to being agitated and angry.
Finally, near the end of his life, the Prophet ﷺ would read the Qur’an twice to Jibreel (AS) in Ramadan (Bukhari & Muslim). Hence, as we get older, we should strive harder, do more good, and get closer to Allah ﷻ, especially in the months of Ramadan we may yet live to see.
Conclusion
Take this Ramadan as if it will be your last. Nothing is guaranteed. Build habits with small increments and improve yourself regularly. Your coming Ramadan should be better than your previous ones, and this should be the case every Ramadan.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.