Ubaadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said one day when Ramadhan had come near The month of Ramadhan, the blessings has come upon you, wherein Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) turns towards you and sends down to you His special blessing, forgives your faults, accepts Dua, appreciates your competing for the greatest good and boasts to the angels about you. So show to Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) your righteousness; for truly, the most pitiable and unfortunate one is he who is deprived of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's mercy in this month.

Note: In this Hadith, we read, about the spirit of competition among the believers, each one trying to do more good deeds than the others. In our home, I am greatly pleased at seeing how even the women folk compete with each other, the one trying to recite more of the Quran than the others, so that, in spite of domestic responsibilities, each one reads half to two thirds of the Quran daily. I mention this only out of a sense of gratitude to Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), indicating His favor and not to boast of it. May Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) accept their deeds and ours, and increase our capacity for good deeds.

Freedom from Jahannam and Acceptance of Dua

Aboo Saeed al-Khudree (Radiallaho Anho) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: "During each day and night of Ramadhan, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) sets free a great number of souls from Jahannam. And from every Muslim, during each day and night at least one Dua is certainly accepted."

Note: Apart from this Hadith, there are many others stating that the Dua of a fasting person is accepted (Mustajaab). In one Hadith, we read that the Dua is accepted at the time of breaking the fast, but we are generally so absorbed in eating, that we neglect this opportunity.

The well known Dua for breaking the fast is often forgotten: "Allaahumma laka sumto wa beka aamantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa alaa rizqika aftertu" (O Allah for You have I fasted, in You do I believe, and on You do I rely, and now I break this fast with food coming from You.) Abdullah Ibn Amr (Radiallaho Anho) used to make the following Dua at breaking the fast. " Allaa-humma innee as'aluka bi-rahmatikallatee wasita kulla shayin an taghfira lee" (O Allah, I beg You, through Your infinite mercy, which surrounds all things, to forgive me.) In some books we read that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) used to say: "Yaa waasi al-fadligh-firlee (O You who give Great Bounties, forgive me). Many other Duaas have been indicated for breaking the fast, but no special Dua is fixed. This time (at breaking the fast) is one when Dua is accepted; submit before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) all your needs (and, if you remember, then make Dua for me too).

Many Fast and Worship at Night but earn nothing but Hunger and lost sleep

Abu Hurairah (Radiallaho Anho) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said "Many of those who fast obtain nothing through such fasting except hunger and many a one performs Salaah by night but obtains nothing by it except the discomfort of staying awake."

Note: With regard to this Hadith, the Ulama have three different interpretations.

First: this Hadith may refer to those who fast during the day and then for breaking the fast eat food that is forbidden by Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala). All the reward for fasting is lost because of the greater sin of eating forbidden food and nothing is gained except remaining hungry.

Secondly: it may mean those who fast but during fasting engage themselves in backbiting and falsely accusing others (see later).

Thirdly: the person referred to may be one who, while fasting did not stay away from evil and sin.

In this Hadith all such possibilities are included. Similar is the case of the person performing Salaah all night who, because of backbiting or any other sinful at (e.g. missing Fajr Salaah or keeping awake for show), loses the reward for his night of worship.

A single fast of Ramadhan more valuable than a lifetime of Fasts outside Ramadhan

Abu Hurairah (Radiallaho Anho) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam0 said : "Whosoever eats during one day of Ramadhan without a valid excuse (acceptable in Shariah) shall never be able to recoup that day even by fasting for the rest of his life."

Note: The view of some Ulama is that when anybody has without any valid excuse failed to fast any one day of Ramadhan and has dishonored it by eating etc. he can never make up the day of Ramadhan which was lost even it he fasts for the rest of his life. Ali (Radiallaho Anho) held this view. However, the vast majority of Ulama maintain that if a person did not fast for one day of Ramadhan then to compensate he will have to fast for only one day. On the other hand if a person had started a fast in Ramadhan and had then broken it knowingly during the day without any valid excuse, according to the Shariah he shall have to fast for sixty days consecutively with Sahoor and breaking the fast.

However, the full virtue and blessings as in Ramadhan will never be obtained. This is the meaning of the above Hadith i.e. where a day of Ramadhan had been lost without excuse, no matter how many days he fast later, he will never be able to make up the true blessings of a single day of fasting in Ramadhan.

All this is for those who try to make up their lost days of fasting. How unfortunate and misguided are those who completely ignore the fast and do not observe it at all in Ramadhan nor fast thereafter as Kuffaarah.

Fasting is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) has told us of five such pillars. First and foremost is the oneness of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and the Nubuwwah of Mohammed (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) and thereafter the four remaining famous pillars Salaah, fasting, Zakaah and Hajj.

A large number of Muslims are counted as such in the records, yet they do not uphold even one of these five pillars. In official papers and the counting , they will be recorded as Muslims, whereas in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's record they can hardly be counted as such.

Ibn Abbas (Radiallaho Anho) relates a Hadith stating: "Islam is based on three principles (1) Iman (2) Salaah (3) Fasting. Whoever fails to uphold any one of these is a disbeliever and deserves capital punishment." As regards the later portion of this Hadith, the Ulama have said that they only become disbelievers when together with failing to uphold any principle they also deny its necessity or its being a principle.

No matter what meaning is given the fact remains that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) most strongly spoke out against such people and those who fail to keep up the obligatory practices of Deen should indeed fear Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) anger greatly. The pleasures of life are short lived and death will surely bring them face to face with Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala). There none can escape and only obedience to His commands in this world can save us.

There are those ignorant persons who do not fast but much worse is the case of those who not only refuse to fast but they make fun of the month of fasting e.g. saying in a sarcastic manner, "He should fast who has no foods in his house, or " What does Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) gain by having us suffer hunger?"

Such words should never be uttered, it should be remembered that to make fun of the smallest of our Deen can lead to Kufr (apostasy). Should any person perform not a single Salaah in his life nor fast one single day or fail to perform any Fard obligations in Islam, he does not become a nonbeliever provided he does not deny these being necessary. Whatever obligation has been performed shall be punished.

But to make fun of even the smallest part of the Deen can lead to Kufr (apostasy), as a result of which all good actions are lost. From this, it can be seen how dangerous such scoffing is, so we should beware of any dishonorable words about fasting.

Even otherwise, anyone failing to fast in Ramadhan without a valid excuse is disobedient to Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) . Some scholars of Islamic law have gone so far as to state that anyone eating publicly in Ramadhan without (valid) excuse, should be put to death. Even in the absence of an Islamic Government to enforce this law (and thus put an end to such actions), nothing stops us from expressing our dislike, resentment and hated against such actions.

That is the least to which our Iman (faith) should drive us and the minimum level of faith is to consider such actions bad at heart. Having come so far. I consider these ten Ahadith sufficient in this first chapter for those who wish to follow them sincerely. As for those who have no intention to change their actions accordingly, no amount of writing will be useful, May Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) grant me and all Muslims the strength to do righteous deeds, because we all have our failings. Aameen.