شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ فِیۡہِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ ہُدًی لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَیِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡہُدٰی وَ الۡفُرۡقَانِ ۚ   فَمَنۡ شَہِدَ مِنۡکُمُ الشَّہۡرَ فَلۡیَصُمۡہُ ؕ

Translation from Kanz al-Īmān: The month of Ramaḍān, in which the Quran descended; (it is) guidance, and direction for the people and (it contains) clear criterion (to judge between right and wrong). So, whosoever amongst you finds this month must fast for the (whole) month.^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Allah explained an exclusivity of Ramaḍān, which is the fact the Quran was revealed in this blessed month. Along with this, He also ordained fasting the entire month to be obligatory for us. Remember! After believing in the oneness of Allah, the Prophets and all essentials of religion, it is obligatory for all sane Muslims who have reached puberty to fast just as it is obligatory for them to offer salah. As explained in the book Durr Mukhtār, “Fasting was made obligatory on the 10^th of Shʿabān 2 AH.”^[2]

Virtues of fasting

Dear Islamic brothers! The greatest act of worship to perform during Ramaḍān is to fast. Every Islamic brother should intend to keep all the fasts of Ramaḍān, as well as to engage in other forms of worship when the blessed month arrives. Countless excellences associated with fasting have been mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Let us have the honour of listening to two of them.

1.   مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ اِيْمَانًا وَ احْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهٗ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِـہٖ - “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramaḍān out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”^[3]