Fasting: Virtues, Fiqh, and Common Questions – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani delivers a practical primer on the fiqh of fasting touching on three main subjects. The virtues, fiqh and common question of fasting.

He begins by reminding us that the wisdom, the spiritual benefits, and the key fiqh of fasting is found in Sura Baqara 2:183-186.

• 183: O you who believe, fasting was prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you become mindful [tattaqun: so that you attain taqwa].184: [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And for those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers more – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.185: The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.186: And when My servants ask you, concerning Me – indeed I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided.

From these verses we see that the central aim of fasting is attaining taqwa or mindfulness of Allah. We also learn that Ramadan is a month of reconnecting with the Qur’an.

Finally we learn that the ultimate aim of fasting is the realization of Allah’s closeness ot His servants. This is the reality of our relationship with Allah.

In summary, all the fiqh, all the rulings, all the virtues and wisdoms and common questions with regard to fasting in Ramadan – they all serve one ultimate purpose, and that is closeness to Allah.

This is the heart of Ramadan. May Allah make us mindful of Him in this holy minth and in all months to come.

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