This chapter gathers the great virtues of fasting Ramadan, the month-long fast that is one of Islam's pillars. The hadith show fasting as a deeply personal act between the servant and Allah, with a reward Allah reserves to Himself.
Several themes run through these reports: fasting shields a person, the fasting believer has special joy when breaking the fast and when meeting the Lord, and a unique gate of Paradise awaits those who fast. The chapter also recalls that Ramadan opens with mercy and ends with forgiveness for those who fast in faith and hope of reward.
Hadith 1215
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "قال الله عز وجل: كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصيام، فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به. والصيام جُنة فإذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يصخب، فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله، فليقل: إني صائم. والذي نفس محمد بيده لخُلوف فم الصائم أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك. "للصائم فرحتان يفرحهما: إذا أفطر فرح بفطره، وإذا لقي ربه فرح بصومه" ((متفق عليه)) .((وهذا لفظ رواية البخاري. وفي رواية له: يترك طعامه، وشرابه، وشهوته، من أجلي، الصيام لي وأنا أجزي به، والحسنة بعشر أمثالها. وفي رواية لمسلم: "كل عمل ابن آدم يضاعف: الحسنة بعشر أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف. قال الله تعالى: (إلا الصوم فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به: يدع شهوته وطعامه من أجلي. للصائم فرحتان: فرحة عند فطره، وفرحة عند لقاء ربه. ولخلوف فيه أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: 'Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except As-Siyam (the fasting) which is (exclusively) for Me, and I will reward him for it.' Fasting is a shield. When anyone of you is observing fast, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, the breath of one observing Saum is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts, experiences two joys: he feels pleasure when he breaks the fast. He is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Rubb." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In a narration by Al-Bukhari, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: '(The person observing Saum) has abstained from food and drink, and sexual pleasures for My sake; fasting is for Me, and I will bestow its reward. Every good deed has ten times its reward'." In a narration by Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The reward of every (good) deed of a person is multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. Allah (SWT) says: 'The reward of observing Saum is different from the reward of other good deeds; Saum is for Me, and I Alone will give its reward. The person observing Saum abstains from food and drink only for My sake.' The fasting person has two joyous occasions, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time of meeting his Rubb. Surely, the breath of one observing Saum is better smelling to Allah than the fragrance of musk."
In plain words
Fasting is so dear to Allah that He calls its reward His own. It guards the believer, so a fasting person avoids foul speech and quarrels, and is promised two joys: breaking the fast and one day meeting the Lord.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1215 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 225
Hadith 1216
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:" من أنفق زوجين في سبيل الله نودي من أبواب الجنة :يا عبد الله هذا خير، فمن كان من أهل الصلاة دعي من باب الصلاة، ومن كان من أهل الجهاد دعي من باب الجهاد، ومن كان من أهل الصيام دعي من باب الريان، ومن كان من أهل الصدقة دعي من باب الصدقة " قال أبو بكر، رضي الله عنه :بأبي أنت وأمي يا رسول الله ما على من دعي من تلك الأبواب من ضرورة، فهل يدعى أحد من تلك الأبواب كلها؟ قال: " نعم وأرجو أن تكون منهم ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah: 'O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salat (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salat; and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allah, will be called from the Gate of Jihad; and who is regular in observing Saum will be called from Ar-Raiyan Gate. The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity." Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?" He replied, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Those who excel in different acts of devotion will be welcomed through Paradise gates matching their deeds, and the most devoted may be called from all of them. The fasting people have their own gate, Ar-Raiyan.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1216 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 226
Hadith 1217
Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him):
وعن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن في الجنة بابًا يقال له: الريان، يدخل منه الصائمون يوم القيامة لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم يقال: أين الصائمون؟ فيقومون لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم، فإذا دخلوا أغلق فلم يدخل منه أحد" ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "In Jannah there is a gate which is called Ar-Raiyan through which only those who observe Saum (fasting) will enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else will enter through it. It will be called out, "Where are those who observe fasting?" So they will stand up and proceed towards it. When the last of them will have entered, the gate will be closed and then no one will enter through that gate." [Muslim].
In plain words
Paradise has a special gate called Ar-Raiyan reserved only for those who fasted. A reminder of the unique honor given to fasting.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1217 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 227
Hadith 1218
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري، رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ما من عبد يصوم يومًا في سبيل الله إلا باعد الله بذلك اليوم وجهه عن النار سبعين خريفًا" ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Every slave of Allah who observes Saum (fasting) for one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will draw his face farther from Hell-fire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy years." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Fasting a single day sincerely for Allah's sake distances a person far from the Fire. Even one day of fasting carries great weight.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1218 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 228
Hadith 1219
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه " ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Fasting Ramadan with sincere faith and hope in Allah's reward leads to forgiveness of one's past sins.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1219 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 229
Hadith 1220
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إذا جاء رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب النار، وصفدت الشياطين" ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When Ramadan begins, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
As Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise open, the gates of the Fire shut, and the devils are restrained. The month is a season ripe for good.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1220 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 230
Hadith 1221
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "صوموا لرؤيته، وأفطروا لرؤيته، فإن غَبِيَ عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثين" ((متفق عليه وهذا لفظ البخاري)). وفي رواية مسلم: "فإن غم عليكم فصوموا ثلاثين يومًا".
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Observe Saum (fast) on sighting the crescent and terminate it on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy before you, then complete the number (thirty days) of the month." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Begin and end Ramadan by sighting the new moon, and if the sky is too cloudy to see it, simply complete thirty days. Practical guidance for marking the month.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1221 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 231