Benefits of Fasting

Question 1

Why does the believer renounce all enjoyment?

Answer 1

• The believer renounces food, and drink and abstains from all other enjoyments willingly in obedience to the command of Allah, to seek his pleasure.
• It helps in building up a person’s moral character as it teaches him self-control and restraint.

Question 2

What should Muslims stay away from especially when fasting? What did the prophet say about this?

Answer 2

• As Muslims fast, they should control their temper, they should remain calm, and refrain from harming others, backbiting, stealing, cheating, lying, and gossiping.
• The prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink”

Question 3

How can fasting benefit society?

Answer 3

• Fasting teaches the rich what hunger really is as they begin to think about the poor and feel empathy for them by staying hungry and thirsty for a specific time period.
• Due to the kindness and compassion of the rich, the poor are less likely to feel envy and hatred toward those who are better off.

Question 4

How does fasting bring a Muslim closer to Allah by fasting?

Answer 4

• Fasting brings a man closer to Allah
• Allah says: “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”
• Believers are ordered to observe fast to be near Allah and gain ‘Taqwa’
• 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. The reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times to seven hundred times.”

Question 5

What happens to the sins of a person when fasting?

Answer 5

• The previous sins of a person are forgiven, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven”

Question 6

How does fasting bring economic benefits and what does Allah and the prophet say?

Answer 6

• The rich spend generously on the poor to seek the blessing of Allah which enables the poor to fulfill their needs.
• Allah says: “For those who can do it(with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free, it is better for him.”
• The prophet(PBUH) said: “During Ramadan, the provisions of the believers are increased.”