What is special about fasting so that Allaah singled it out when He
said, "Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it?".
Praise be to Allaah.
Al-Bukhaari (1761) and Muslim (1946) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah said: 'Every deed of
the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall
reward for it…'"
Because all deeds are for the sake of Allaah and He is the One Who
rewards for them, the scholars differed concerning this phrase,
"Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it" –why is fasting singled
out in this manner?
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) quoted the views of
ten scholars who sought to explain the meaning ofthis hadeeth and why
fasting was singled out in this manner. The most important of these
views are as follows:
1 – That there is no showing off in fasting as may happen in other
acts of worship. Al-Qurtubi said: Because showing off may enter into
all good deeds, but no one can see when a person is fasting except
Allaah, so Allaah connected it to Himself. Hence He said in the
hadeeth, "He gives up his desire for My sake." Ibn al-Jawzi said: All
acts of worship can be seen when done, and they maybe contaminated
with some element of showingoff, unlike fasting.
2 – That what is meant bythe words, "I shall reward for it" is: I am
the only One Who knows the extent of his reward and how much his
hasanaat (good deeds) will be multiplied. Al-Qurtubi said: What this
means is that the amount of reward for good deeds may become known to
people, and they will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold,
and as much as Allaah wants, except fasting, for Allaah will reward it
without measure. This is supported by a report narrated by Muslim
(115) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Every deed of the son of Adam will be rewarded between ten and seven
hundred fold. Allaah said: 'Except fasting, for it is for Me and I
shall reward for it'" – i.e., I shall reward it greatly, without
specifying how much. Thisis like the verse in which Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning):
"Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full,
without reckoning"
[al-Zumar 39:10]
3 – That what is meant by"fasting is for Me" is that it is the dearest
of acts of worship to Me. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr said: The words "Fasting is
for Me" are sufficient to indicate the superiority of fasting overall
other acts of worship. Al-Nasaa'i (2220) narratedthat Abu Umaamah
said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "You should fast, for thereis nothing like it." Classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Nasaa'i.
4 – That fasting is mentioned in conjunction with Allaah by way of
honouring, as we say, "the House of Allaah," although all houses
belong to Allaah. Al-Zayn ibn al-Muneer said: giving a specific
meaning to something general in a context such as this can only be
understood as being by way of honouring.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This hadeeth points to thevirtue of fasting in numerous ways:
1 – Allaah singled out fasting for Himself from all other good deeds,
because of its honoured status before Him, because He loves it and
because it is a demonstration of sinceritytowards Him, as it is a
secret between a person and his Lord, which no one can see except
Allaah.The fasting person may be in a place with no other people
around, and he could eat or drink that which Allaah has forbidden to
the fasting person, but he does not do that, because he knows that he
has a Lord Who can see him even though he is alone and Who has
forbidden that to him. So he forsakes it for the sake of Allaah and
fearing His punishment, seeking His reward. Because of that, Allaah
appreciates his sincerity and singled out fasting forHimself from
among all other good deeds. Hence He said: "He gives up his desires
and his food for My sake."
The benefit of this singling out will be seen on the Day of
Resurrection, as Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah said: When the Day of
Resurrection comes, Allaah will bring His slave to account and will
settle any scores outstanding from the rest of his deeds, until when
there is nothing left but fasting, Allaah will settle the matter and
will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his fasting.
:->
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