In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
One shouldn’t put off the six day fasting of Shawwal such that one ends up missing the immense reward of fasting the six days.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated explicitly that:
Fasting Ramadan is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days [of Shawwal] is like fasting two months. That is like fasting a full year.[Ahmad & Nasa’i]
This is because the reward of actions is multiplied (at least) ten-fold. So Ramadhan is like fasting 300 days, and the six days of Shawwal like fasting 60 days.
The sooner you do them, the better, because Allah says,
... فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ...[Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:48]
...so race to [all that is] good...
وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣[Qur'an AleImran, 3:133]
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (133)
قَالَ هُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ عَلَىٰٓ أَثَرِى وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ ﴿٨٤[Qur'an, Ta-Ha 20:84]
He (Musa alayhissalaam) said, "They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased." (84)
Among the benefits of fasting the six days of Shawwal is:
1- Sign of acceptance of Ramadhan fasts. It is a sign of the acceptance of one’s Ramadhan fasts. This is because a sign of Allah’s accepting a good deed is to be granted the success to perform similar good deeds, with consistency.
2- Consistency itself is beloved. The actions most beloved to Allah and the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) are those done most consistently.
3- Sign of thankfulness. Fasting these six days is an expression of thankfulness for the reward of fasting that Allah grants on the day of Eid. Continuing to fast is a sign of being, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) described himself, “A truly thankful servant.” Thankfulness is the key to increase, and a means of securing one’s blessings and good.
4- Sign of commitment to continue. Fasting these six days is a sign of one’s commitment to continue in worship and submission to Allah willingly and not merely out of obligation.
If you are unable to fast the six days of Shawwal due to some genuine excuse, make a firm intention that if this excuse didn’t exist you would have fasted. If this intention is sincere, inshaa Allah you will have the full reward of fasting these days, because, “Actions are by their intentions, and each person shall have whatever they intended,” as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) explained. [Muslim] The signs of being true in one’s intention is that if one’s excuse is lifted, one hastens to fulfill the intended matter.
May Allah accept our Ramadhan fasts and enable us to complete the six day fasting of Shawwal and grant us good works that are consistent. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No comments:
Post a Comment