Virtues of Fasting

Fasting has numerous virtues including the following:

1) A person who fasts during this month, sincerely believing in Allah, in obedience to His commands and is certain of His rewards in the hereafter for doing so, will have all his past sins forgiven. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan, out of sincere faith and in anticipation of Allah’s rewards [in the hereafter], will have all his past sins forgiven.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: 1910; Saheeh Muslim: 760)

2) The fasting person will experience great joy in the hereafter for the great rewards he will get and the bliss he will enjoy for fasting. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and the other one when he meets his Lord.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: 1805; Saheeh Muslim: 1151)

3) Paradise has a gate called Ar-Rayyaan through which only those who used to fast will enter, as the Prophet May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “In Paradise there is a gate called Ar-Rayyaan, through which only those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection, and no one but they will enter it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ They will then get up, and none will enter it but them. When they have entered, it will be closed, and no one else will enter.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: 1797; Saheeh Muslim: 1152)

4) Every act of worship has a certain reward except for fasting, for which Allah, in His boundless bounty and mercy, will reward those who observe it abundantly. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “Allah said, ‘All the deeds of the children of Adam are for them except for fasting, which is for Me, and I will reward it.’”(Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: 1805, Saheeh Muslim: 1151)