I do not fast. Will I be punished on the Day of Resurrection?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Fasting in Ramadaan is one of the pillars on which Islam is built.
Allaah tells us that He has prescribed it for the believers of this
ummah [nation], as He prescribed it for those who came before them.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become
Al-Muttaqoon (the pious"
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed theQur'aan, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescenton the first
night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must
observe Sawm (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey,
the same number[of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be
made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not
want to make things difficult for you. (He wantsthat you) must
complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah
[i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for
having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him"
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
Al-Bukhaari (8) and Muslim (16) narrated that Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Islam is built on five (pillars): the
testimony that there is no god but Allaah and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allaah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; Hajj; and
fasting Ramadaan."
Whoever does not fast has abandoned one of thepillars of Islam, and is
committing a grave majorsin. Indeed some of the salaf were of the view
that he is a kaafir [disbeliever] and apostate– we seek refuge with
Allaah from that.
Abu Ya'la narrated in his Musnad from Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "The bonds of Islam and the bases of religion are
three, on which Islam was founded. Whoever gives up one of them
becomes a kaafir thereby and it is permissible to shed his blood: the
testimony that there is nogod but Allaah, the prescribed prayers and
fasting Ramadaan."
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Dhahabi, and as hasan by
al-Haythami in Majma' al-Zawaa'id, 1/48, and by al-Mundhiri in
al-Targheeb wa'l-Tarheeb,no. 805, 1486. Classed as da'eef by
al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da'eefah, no. 94.
Al-Dhahabi said in al-Kabaa'ir, p. 64.
Whoever does not fast in Ramadaan without being sick or having any
other excuse that allows him not to fast is more evil than the
adulterer or drunkard, indeed they doubted his Islam and thought that
this was heresy.
A saheeh report which warns against not fasting was narrated by Ibn
Khuzaymah (1986) and Ibn Hibbaan (7491) from Abu Umaamah al-Baahili
who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) say: "Whilst I was sleeping two men came to me and
took my by the arm and brought me to a cragged mountain. They said,
'Climb up.' I said, 'I cannot.' They said, 'We will make it easy for
you.' So I climbed up until I wasat the top of the mountain. Then I
heard loud voices. I said, 'What are these voices?' They said, 'This
is the howling of the people of Hell." Then I was taken until I saw
people hanging by their hamstrings, with thesides of their mouths
tornand blood pouring from their mouths.' I said, 'Whoare these?' He
said, 'These are people who broke their fast before it was time.'"
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid al-Zam'aan, no.
1509.
Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This is the punishment
of those who fasted then broke the fast deliberatelybefore the time
for breaking the fast came, sowho about those who do not fast at all?
We ask Allaah to keep us safe andsound in this world and inthe
Hereafter.
Our advice to the brother who asked this question is to fear Allaah
and to beware of His wrath, vengeance and a painful punishment. He
should hasten to repent to Allaahbefore the destroyer of pleasures
that splits people apart [i.e., death] takes him unawares. Today there
is action and no reckoning, but tomorrow there will be the reckoning
and no action. Note that whoeverrepents, Allaah will accepthis
repentance, and whoever draws closer to Allaah one hand span, Allaah
will draw closer to him one cubit....
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