1. Fasting is a Shield
Fasting provides protection from evil for those who sincerely fast. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “Fasting is a shield.”
Narrated Uthman ibn Abil – Aas and Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with them): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from Fire.”
2. Fasting Causes one to enter Paradise
Narrated Abu Umaamah (may Allah be pleased with him): I said. “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter paradise.” He said, “Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it.”
Narrated Abu Saeed (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophet saying, “Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts one day seeking the pleasure of Allah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter Paradise.”
3. The People who fast are rewarded with immense reward
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting has no equal.” Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) said, “Allah said -All the deeds of Adams sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.
4. Fasting and the Quran intercede for a person
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O my Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him “, and the Qur’an will say: “I prevented him from sleep a night, so accept my intercession for him”. so their intercession will be accepted.”
5. Fasting is an expiation for various sins
Narrated Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) said, “A man’s afflictions (i.e. wrong deeds) concerning his relation to his family, his property and his neighbours are expiated by his prayers, giving in charity and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.”
6. Ar – Rayyaan is for those who fast
Narrated Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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?” They 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.”
7. Makes us appreciate the provision of food (from Allah)
Fasting gives the individual a real taste of hunger and thirst which helps him to realise the experience of the poor. This experience should instil a desire to want to help those who are less fortunate by sharing food and wealth with them.
When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he experiences how the poor feel, so he has compassion towards them and gives them something to ward off their hunger. Hearing about them is not the same as sharing their suffering, just as a rider does not understand the hardship of walking unless he gets down and walks.
8. Helps improve Moral character
It is required that the individual gives up not only food, drink, but also all forms of lying (e.g. backbiting, slander, etc). This is confirmed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) statement: Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”
So, if one observes the fast according to the above principles, it should improve his morale character, making him more truthful and more careful about what he says and does. If a persons stomach is hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties from feeling hunger or desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, eye, hand and private parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the defeat of Shaytaan; it controls desires and protects ones faculties.
9. Health benefits
It has also been noted by medical experts that fasting improves the physical health in numerous ways. For example, during the fast, the body uses up stored cholesterol (fats) which are often deposited in the blood system, as well as other fatty areas of the body. Thus, it helps to keep the body firm and minimizes the danger of heart attacks.
10. Du’a will be answered
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The du’a of the fasting person will not be refused.”
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References:
http://yushaevans.com
http://askaquestionto.us
http://quran.com
http://www.myot.org.au
http://www.fastramadan.com
http://sunnah.org
http://www.sunniforum.com