It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be given a ten-fold reward, up to seven hundred. Allaah says: ‘Except fasting, for it is for Me, and I shall reward for it, for he gives up his desire and his food for My sake…’ and the fasting person has two joys, one joy when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. And the smell from his mouth is better before Allaah than the fragrance of musk.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5927; Muslim, 1151.

This hadeeth points to the virtue of fasting and the greatness of its status before Allaah. This hadeeth mentions four of the many virtues of fasting:

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Those who fast will be given their reward without measure. All good deeds will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold, except fasting, for its reward is not limited to these numbers, rather Allaah will multiply it greatly.

For fasting is part of sabr, and Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning”

[al-Zumar 39:10]

al-Awzaa’i said: “It will not be weighed or measured, rather it will be scooped up in abundance.

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Allaah has connected fasting to Himself, in exclusion to all other deeds, and this is sufficient honour. This – and Allaah knows best – is because fasting covers the entire day, so the fasting person feels that he has lost his desire and he would like to have it back. There is no other act of worship that takes as long as fasting, especially in the summer when days are long and hot.

For a man to give up his desires for the sake of Allaah is an act of worship that is rewarded, for fasting is a secret between a person and his Lord which no one knows of except Allaah. It is a hidden action which people cannot see and in which there is no element of showing off.

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When the fasting person meets his Lord, he will rejoice over his fasting, when he sees the reward for that and the result of the acceptance of the fasting that Allaah enabled him to do.

As for his joy when breaking his fast, that is because he has completed his act of worship and kept it sound and free of anything that will invalidate it, and has managed to refrain from something that he was inclined towards. This is a kind of joy that is praiseworthy because it is joy in obeying Allaah and completing the fast for which reward is promised, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: In the Bounty of Allaah, and in His Mercy —therein let them rejoice.”

[Yoonus 10:58]

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The smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allaah than the scent of musk. This fragrance will appear on the Day of Resurrection because that is the time when the reward of deeds will become apparent. The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “… better before Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim, 163).

That also applies in this world because that is when the effect of this worship becomes apparent, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The smell in the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allaah than the scent of musk.” Ibn Hibbaan (8/211).

This smell – even though it is unpleasant to people in this world – is still better before Allaah than the scent of musk, because it is the result of obeying Allaah.

Ibn Hibbaan (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The signs of the believers on the Day of Resurrection will be the marks of their wudoo’ in this world, by which they will be distinguished from all other nations. And their sign on the Day of Resurrection will be their fasting and the smell of their mouths will be better before Allaah than the scent of musk, so that they will be known among that great gathering by this action. We ask Allaah for that blessing on that Day.” Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 8/211.

Another of the virtues of fasting is that Allaah has set aside a special gate of Paradise for those who fast, through which no one else will enter Paradise, as an honour to them. Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection, and no one will enter it but them. When they have entered it will be closed and no one will enter it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1896; Muslim, 1152. “And whoever enters will drink, and whoever drinks will never thirst again.” Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 1903.

But these virtues will only be attained by those who fast sincerely, abstaining from food, drink and sex, and who also abstain from listening to and looking at haraam things, and from haraam earnings, and whose physical faculties abstain from sin and whose tongues abstain from lies, obscene talk and false speech.

This is the fast that is prescribed in Islam and that will bring this great reward. Otherwise, the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and offensive speech and actions, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1903.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray qiyaam and get nothing from their qiyaam but a sleepless night.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 8693; Ibn Maajah, 1690.

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It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Read the Qur’aan, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection and intercede for its companions…” Narrated by Muslim, 804.

This hadeeth is indicative of the virtue of reading the Qur’aan, and the great reward that it brings, and tells us that it will intercede for its companions on the Day of Resurrection for them to enter Paradise.

It was narrated that al-Nawaas ibn Sam’aan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The Qur’aan will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, with its people – those who used to used to act in accordance with it – preceded by Soorat al-Baqarah and Aal ‘Imraan.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) likened them to three things, which I did not forget afterwards. He (the Prophet) likened them to two clouds or twoblack canopies with light between them, or like two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for one who recitedthem.”

Narrated by Muslim, 805.

And it was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting and the Qur’aan will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I deprived him of food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ And the Qur’aan will say: ‘I deprived him of sleep during the night, so let me intercede for him.’ So they will both be allowed to intercede.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 6589.

The fasting person should recite Qur’aan a great deal during these blessed days and nights, for reading Qur’aan during Ramadaan is more special than in other months.

He should make the most of his time in the blessed month in which Allaah revealed the Qur’aan.

Reading Qur’aan in the nights of Ramadaan is something special, for the night is free of distractions and it is easier to focus the mind, thus a person can focus on what he is reading and try to understand it. And Allaah is the One Whose help we seek.

It was proven that Jibreel (peace be upon him) used to meet with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) every night in Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. If dhikr were superior to the Qur’aan or equal to it, they would have recited dhikr all the time or some of the time during their frequent meetings. This hadeeth shows us that it is mustahabb to study the Qur’aan in Ramadaan and to gather to do so, and to practise reciting Qur’aan in front of one who has more knowledge of it.

The righteous salaf of this ummah used to recite Qur’aan a great deal during Ramadaan. When they fasted they would sit in the mosques and say, Let us guard our fast and not backbite about anyone. They would recite Qur’aan in prayer and at other times.

‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to read the entire Qur’aan once a day.

Some of the salaf used to complete it when praying qiyaam every three nights.

Some of them used to complete it every seven nights, and some every ten.

In Ramadaan al-Shaafa’i used to complete it sixty times at times other than prayer.

Al-Aswad used to read the whole Qur’aan every two nights in Ramadaan.

Qutaadah used to complete the Qur’aan every seven days all the time, and in Ramadaan every three days, and in the last ten days every night.

These reports about the salaf are well known.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: It was narrated that it is not allowed to read the Qur’aan in less than three days as a habit, but in times of virtue, such as the month of Ramadaan – especially during the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought, or in places of virtue such as Makkah for non-residents who go there, it is mustahabb to read Qur’aan a great deal, seeking to make the most of the virtue of that time or place. This is the view of Ahmad, Ishaaq and other imams, and this is indicated by the actions of others as stated above.

The one who reads Qur’aan must observe the proper etiquette, including having a sincere intention towards Allaah.

He should read in a state of purity (i.e., with wudoo’)

He should use miswaak.

He should think about what he is reading and not rush, rather he should read at a measured pace, and focus on the meanings, because this helps the reader to pronounce the letters correctly and ponder the meanings, and focus with proper humility. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“(This is) a Book (the Qur’aan) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember”

[Saad 38:29]

The etiquette of reading includes not breaking off to speak to anyone. Many people sit to read with others next to them, and they often break off to speak to their neighbour. This is not appropriate because it is turning away from reading unnecessarily.

The one who is reading should act in accordance with the Qur’aan, regard as halaal that which it permits and as haraam that which it forbids, so that the Qur’aan will testify for him on the Day of Resurrection and will intercede for him to enter Paradise.

And Allaah knows best.

Source: Ahkaam al-Siyaam by al-Fawzaan, p. 63.

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