Fiqh Assunah

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3: Fasting (As-siyam)

As-Siyam generally means "to abstain from something." For example,a verse in the Qur'an says: "I have vowed to the Merciful to abstain--thatis, from speaking.

What is meant here is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercoursefrom dawn until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so (for the sake ofAllah).

Volume3, Page 107a: The Virtues of Fasting

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, saying:"Allah said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting,for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it.' The fast is a shield. Ifone is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice, or behavefoolishly. If someone reviles him or fights with him he should say, 'I amfasting,' twice. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the [bad]breath of the one who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah on the Day ofResurrection than the smell of musk. The one who is fasting is happy at twotimes: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it, and when he meets his Lordhe will be happy that he has fasted." This is related by Ahmad, Muslim,and an-Nasa'i. A similar version was recorded by al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud, butwith the following addition: "He leaves his food, drink, and desires forMy sake. His fasting is for Me... I will give the reward for it, and for everygood deed, he will receive ten similar to it."

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace,said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant ofAllah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented himfrom his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'anwill say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.'And their intercession will be accepted." Ahmad related this hadith with asahih chain.

Abu Umamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'Orderme to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He said: 'Stick tofasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and hesaid: 'Stick to fasting."' This hadith is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, andal-Hakim who classified it as sahih.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Noservant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes thehellfire seventy years further away from his face." This is related by"the group," except for Abu Dawud.

Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet said: "There is a gate toParadise that is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say:'Where are those who fasted?' When the last [one] has passed through the gate,it will be locked." This is related by alBukhari and Muslim.

Volume3, Page 108: Types of Fasting

There are two types of fasting: obligatory and voluntary. Obligatory can befurther subdivided into the fast of Ramadan, the fast of expiation and the fastof fulfilling a vow. Here we shall discuss the Ramadan and voluntary fasts.