By Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi
ALL praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the day of Judgment.
Fasting during Ramadhaan means abstinence from all food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset. It is recommended that before sunrise, Muslims eat a prefast meal known as suhur. This meal often resembles breakfast, but in some cultures, it may include more dinner-like foods.
Ramadhaan is one of the purposes Allaah Almighty remains people on the surface of the earth. Ramadhaan is among the months, which because of them, Allaah Almighty has not perished the world.
The month of fasting is a month people move near to their creator most, that is why the blessings of Allaah descend a lot in the month of Ramadhaan.
It is a warnig that nobody should reproach or insult the fasting people, because everybody is benefiting a lot from their fasting.
It has been proven medically that there are merits the fasting people will have access to, that such merits cannot be achieved except through fasting.
The order by the Most Merciful that we should fast is a sign that the seal of the Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), was sent by Allaah Almighty like others. This is clearly stated in Chapter 2, verse 183 of the Noble Qur’aan: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).
These are spiritual and physical benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadhaan
- Forgiveness: One of the numerous benefits of Ramadhaan is earning Allah’s forgiveness. It is important to point that the Messenger (PBUH) said: “Cursed is he who witnesses the blessed month but doesn’t earn Allah’s forgiveness”. So repent and brace for Allah’s mercy — it’s in abundance.
Narrated by Ibn Salam who heard from Muhammad Ibn Fudoyl who said: It was narrated from Yahya Ibn Sa’eed, who reported from Abu Salamah, who reported from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with all of them): Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Whoever observes Saum (Fasting) during the month of Ramadhaan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.” — Sahih Al-Bukhari
- Steadfastness: Since the goal of Ramadhaan is to attain piety, then you should brace up with good deeds. Increase your goodness not only in the blessed month but beyond. Ramadhaan gives you a chance to scale up righteousness and keep it as an habit.
- Protection: In the famous hadith of Muadh ibn Jabal RA, he reported the Prophet (PBUH) to have said: “…fasting is a shield…”. Not only does it ward off evils and immoralities from us. It also prevents us from following the footpath of shaytan. So if you find people keeping to bad habit in Ramadhaan and blaming it on shaytan, remind them of this hadith:
“When the month of Ramadhaan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- Reflection: This is a time for us all to rethink and reform our ways. Remember how Allah favored you to witness the last Ramadhaan. Some did observe the previous fasting but are companions of the grave today. Think about the numerous sins you’ve committed and determine not to return to them. Express gratitude for all the favours Allah has endowed you with and commit yourself to be a better person in Ramadhaan and beyond.
- Detoxification: Abstaining from eating and drinking enhances the metabolic process of the body. This is done by naturally expelling body toxins and systematically reducing the rate of food consumption. So, it is really not about how much you eat and store, it’s the patience and perseverance that really keeps the body in shape.
- Accountability: Ramadhaan helps you stay on track. You consciously take into cognisance what you say, eat, do etcetera. Most often, people get to abandon their sinful ways as a result of reformation. This is because the holy month gives room for reflection in order to assess one’s progress as the days count.
- Emancipation: This blessed period comes with a big bonus — ransom from hell and admission into paradise. In a beautiful narration, Abu Huraira reported; The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the devils are chained, the jinn are restrained, and the gates of Hellfire are closed and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. A caller announces: O seeker of good, come near! O seeker of evil, stop short! Allah will save them from the Hellfire and that is during every night of Ramadan.” — (Tirmidhi)
- Bonding with the Qur’an: It is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed and the Angel Jibril used to revise it with Allah’s Apostle. Muslims familiarise themselves with the Qur’an day and night through recitation, memorisation, listening and also learning the exegesis. One of the best parts of it is the reward that comes with completing the recitation of the whole Qur’an in the sacred month.
- Humility and Empathy: We submit to Allah’s injunction by fasting in this holy month. It’s one of the pillars to be established by every faithful Muslim. Through this as well, we are able to express gratitude to Allah for His endless bounties on us. We feel the pains of the poor and this reminds us of the virtue of supporting the needy.
- Growth: One of the most important gains from Ramadhaan is the ability to evolve. To transform from a previous you to the new you. The one whom hopefully has gone through a spiritual rebirth that will propel for the rest of the year. Ramadhaan comes to teach piety so we are expected to keep up with good deeds and abstain from evil as much as we can. If you can achieve this, then count yourself among the lucky ones who gained immensely from the blessed month.
May Allah count us among those who will witness Ramadhaan from the beginning till the end, and grant us the ability to do acceptable deeds. May we be among the people who would be totally forgiven, emancipated and earn His love. Aameen!
May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the entire Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.
- Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad, Obaagun, State of Osun
