The holy month of Ramadan is known to be the most blessed month of the year due to the high number of rewards available for a Muslim to accumulate in such a short span of time. It is narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said: "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it."
Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire of hell and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, "I am fasting."
"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting" (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128).
The simplest reward of Ramadan is how it helps us become better human beings in the society as a whole. Throughout the month, Muslims not only practice charity and generosity, but also self-restraint and self-discipline, hence not only bettering the plight of others but also bettering themselves. We refrain from backbiting, gossiping, getting angry, and immorality. Fasting allows us to not only be in constant remembrance of Allah, but also evaluate ourselves. By the end of the month, if the month was taken as seriously as it should be, a faithful should come out of it a better version of himself or herself.
The health benefits of fasting can also not be overlooked. Fasting helps us reduce the amount of food we eat, encourages us to have more water and fresh fruits, and helps the body flush out toxins. Some dietary changes implemented during this month can greatly facilitate weight loss, rejuvenating the body and sometimes even taking years off of the face.
Another, bigger, reward is that we are provided with the opportunity to cleanse ourselves of all our sins of the past year, if only we fast with the faith and intention to. It is said that during this holy month, all doors to heaven are wide open, and all doors to hell closed shut, with all the devils chained down.
It is narrated by Sahl: the Prophet said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, "Where are those who used to observe fasts?" The faithful will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it" (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120).
We are given several ways to show our devotion to Allah, by not only faithfully fasting from dusk till dawn, but also by offering prayers at night, especially on the last ten days of the month. Every type of effort, whether grand or simple, is rewarded generously and graciously. The rewards available to us during this month are immeasurably great, so letting a time such as this go to waste is extremely foolish.
Written by Lubna Sohraab - Special to Times of Oman
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