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act of goodness is rewarded. Rewards are given based on the sincerity
of the intention. Fasting is the only worship about which Allah has
said that He Himself is the reward for it. This means that one develops
such a close relationship with Allah that Allah Himself becomes the
helper.
Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon
him, said: "Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: All other deeds
of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall
reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting
he should abstain from loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone
revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with:
I am observing a fast. By Him in Whose hands is the life of Muhammad,
the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than
the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful
when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when
he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim).
Sa'ad ibn Sahl relates that
the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "There is a gate of Paradise
called Rayyan through which only those will enter on the Day of Judgment
who are regular in observing the fast and no one else. A call will
go forth: Where are those who observed the fast regularly? And they
will step forth and no one beside them will enter through that gate.
After they shall have entered, the gate will be closed and no one
else will enter thereby" (Bokhari and Muslim).
Abu Sa'id Khudri relates
that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When a servant of
Allah observes the fast for a day for the sake of Allah, He thereby
repels the Fire from him a distance of seventy years of journeying"
(Bokhari and Muslim).
Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet,
peace be upon him, said: "He who observes the fast during Ramadhan
out of sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his
past sins forgiven him" (Bokhari and Muslim).
Abu Hurairah relates
that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When Ramadhan arrives
the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked
up and satans are put in chains" (Bokhari and Muslim).
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