Verily, fasting is a great opportunity for the purification of hearts and clearance of their filth, and a precious opportunity to brighten the souls by upgrading them to high statuses, noble ranks, and purification. However, that is only achieved if the one who observes the fast completes it perfectly. This is because not every fast is fruitful. On the contrary, the only fast that is fruitful is the complete and perfect fast, as the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu): “Fasting is not [abstaining] from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is abused or annoyed, he should say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.'” [Saheeh al-Jamie’ no. 5376 – graded Saheeh by Al-Albaani]
It is by this perfection and completeness that the souls will be elevated, purified, and refined with good conduct and perfect manners.
This explains the reason why many people do not see the impact of their fast in purifying their souls, cleaning their hearts, and reforming their state. It is only due to the neglect of completing and perfecting one’s fast.
True fasting is the fasting of the limbs from committing sins; and the fasting (abstinence) of the tongue from backbiting, gossiping, and bad speech; and the fasting of the stomach from eating and drinking; and the fasting of the heart by purifying it from grudges, hatred, and malice; and the fasting of the private parts by staying away from sexual relations with one’s spouse. By all these matters, the completeness of the fast is fulfilled, which will have a complete effect and bear complete fruits.
Fasting is an opportunity to cure the souls and hearts and rectify the tongues. Indeed, this is needed badly, especially in the present times.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hashr [59:10]:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful.'”
Allaah (Ta’ala) attributed them with two great characteristics and noble attributes; one related to the heart, and the other related to the tongue.
As for the one related to the heart, it is in His statement (interpretation of the meaning): “And put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed.”
It is required from every believer to clear his heart and remove what is therein of resentment, malice, hatred, etc. And if he reaches this high status, he will attain a great and abundant reward by it, even if his deeds are few and his acts of obedience are little.
Sufyaan ibn Dinar (Rahimahullaah) said: “I asked Abu Bishr about the deeds of those who preceded us?” He answered: “They used to do little good deeds and were rewarded abundantly.” I said: “Why is that?” He said: “Because of the soundness of their hearts.”
Surely, soundness of the breast and purity of the heart has a great effect on the reward of the deeds and the greatness of the reward with Allaah!
The second matter is related to the soundness of the tongue, and is indicated by the Statement of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): “They say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in faith.’”
I.e. there is nothing on their tongues except good words, upright statements, advice, and supplication. And there is nothing in their hearts except love, affection, and sincerity towards their brothers. There is no resentment, grudge, malice, or the like.
How badly is our need for such purification by which we perfect our fasts and complete our acts of obedience to Allaah.
The month of Ramadan is a part of our lives which Allaah (Ta’ala) will ask us about on the Day of Resurrection. Rather, it is the most precious part of our lives, because the month of Ramadan is the best of months and the most virtuous. In it is a night which is better than all other nights and higher than them in status. It is a night in which worshipping Allaah is better than worshipping Allaah for a thousand months. Whoever has been deprived of it has been deprived of all good, as has been mentioned by the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
Let us take advantage of this great month and fear Allaah (Ta’ala), and ask Him forgiveness for our negligence and shortcomings, and to reform our affairs and attain all good in this great month. Ameen
Source:
Khutbah conducted by Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaq al-Badr
[Teacher in the masjid of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Madinah].
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