The Guidance from Allah and His Prophet S. A .W. on Fasting in Ramadan

By
Ustaz Syed Hassan Alatas

Translated by Zainur Alsmi bt. Sharif   

Allah said in Surah  Al Baqorrah (The Cow: 183). “O you who believe! Observing Assaum (fasting) is prescribed for as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al Muttakqin (the pious)”

He also  said in Surah Al Baqorrah :184 “Observing Saum (fast) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you are ill or on a journey, the same number should be made up on other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty (e.g. an old man), they have a choice either to fast or to feed a miskin (poor person) for every day missed.  But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that your fast is only better if only you know”.

As said by Allah in Surah AlBaqorrah :185. “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Al Quran, a guidance for mankind and  clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion between right and wrong. So whoever of you sight (the crescent on the first night) the month of Ramadan (i.e. is present at his house) must observe Saum (fast ) that month and whoever is  ill or on a journey, the same number or days (which one did not fast) must be made up from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you complete the same number of days and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him"

The above surah is further supported by the saying of the Prophet “All men’s good deeds are for himself except fasting which is for Allah. Allah repays man for it. (H. R. Bukhari).

 “The month of Ramadan is when Allah made it obligatory for you to fast and the Prophet advises you to pray and worship Allah at night. Whoever fast during the day and pray and worship Allah at night as a result of his faith and hope from Allah for His reward will be cleanse of all his sins. He will be like a newborn baby. (H.R. Ibnu Majah).

“Fasting is not only abstinence from food and drinks, but include abstinence from malicious gossips, foul language and viscous acts.”(H.R. Ibnu Khuzaimah)