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Charity and Fasting: Twin Blessings in Ramadhaan
Under category :
All about Ramadan
3536
2011/08/21
2024/11/14
in ramadhaan, allaah the almighty combines two blessings— charity and fasting – and makes them a means of increasing sustenance upon his slaves in ramadhaan, by spreading his mercy over them, his forgiveness and emancipation from hell. if the slaves help each other in increasing their sustenance it will cause him to confer upon them out of his bounty. in confirmation of that, the messenger of allaah 
says: "allaah bestows mercy upon the merciful among his slaves." [al-bukhaari and muslim]
as the slaves are merciful towards each other, multiply their charity and kindness in the hope of receiving the mercy and forgiveness of allaah the almighty, and give their brothers liberally, allaah the almighty then gives to them liberally. thus, they increase their acts of charity, out of munificence towards the slaves of allaah the almighty, in the hope of receiving the munificence of allaah the almighty. the more they are munificent towards the slaves of allaah the almighty, the more he becomes munificent towards them, and increases their sustenance out of his forgiveness, bounty and good pleasure, and recompenses them for their charity.
a third advantage lies in the fact that the combination of fasting and charity is one of the causes that guarantee paradise. in confirmation of this, the messenger of allaah said: "‘in paradise, there are chambers (whose walls are so transparent) that their outside could be visible through their inside, and their inside through their outside.’ a bedouin stood up and said, "for whom will those be, o messenger of allaah?’ the prophet said: ‘those will be for the one who says kind words, serves food (to the needy and poor), observes fast perpetually (during the day), and stands (in prayer) to allaah at night while the people are asleep.’" [at-tirmithi]
said: "‘in paradise, there are chambers (whose walls are so transparent) that their outside could be visible through their inside, and their inside through their outside.’ a bedouin stood up and said, "for whom will those be, o messenger of allaah?’ the prophet said: ‘those will be for the one who says kind words, serves food (to the needy and poor), observes fast perpetually (during the day), and stands (in prayer) to allaah at night while the people are asleep.’" [at-tirmithi]
these are achieved in ramadhaan: fasting, giving charity, standing at night in prayer and saying pleasant words. the messenger of allaah forbade the fasting person from engaging in idle talk and vulgar speech so that his speech would be pleasant and his treatment would be kind, in response to the statement of allaah the almighty (which means): {and speak to people good [words].} [quran 2:83]
forbade the fasting person from engaging in idle talk and vulgar speech so that his speech would be pleasant and his treatment would be kind, in response to the statement of allaah the almighty (which means): {and speak to people good [words].} [quran 2:83]
the messenger of allaah always called the attention of his companions to this saying: “‘who among you is fasting today?’ abu bakr replied, ‘i am.’ he asked, ‘who among you followed a funeral today?’ abu bakr said, ‘i did.’ he asked, ‘who among you presented food to a needy person today?’ abu bakr said, ‘i did.’ he asked, ‘who among you visited a patient (to inquire about his health) today?’ abu bakr replied, ‘i did.’ upon this, the messenger of allaah said: ‘those (good deeds) never meet in a person but that he would be admitted to paradise.’” [muslim]
always called the attention of his companions to this saying: “‘who among you is fasting today?’ abu bakr replied, ‘i am.’ he asked, ‘who among you followed a funeral today?’ abu bakr said, ‘i did.’ he asked, ‘who among you presented food to a needy person today?’ abu bakr said, ‘i did.’ he asked, ‘who among you visited a patient (to inquire about his health) today?’ abu bakr replied, ‘i did.’ upon this, the messenger of allaah said: ‘those (good deeds) never meet in a person but that he would be admitted to paradise.’” [muslim]
the combination of fasting, charity and acts of righteousness guarantees paradise, and causes one to attain the good pleasure of the lord, and be in the company of {the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. and excellent are those as companions.} [quran 4:69]
if a person obtains the forgiveness of allaah the almighty in ramadhaan, that will be, indeed the great felicity, and whatever he spends in the way of obtaining this forgiveness, it will be nothing at all, since nothing whatsoever is significant in comparison with forgiveness. the messenger of allaah said:
said:
"a man from amongst the dwellers of hell, who led the most blissful and comfortable life in the world, would be brought and dipped in the fire only once on the day of judgment, and then it would be said to him, ‘o son of aadam, have you ever experienced any comfort or bliss?’ he would say, ‘by allaah, no, my lord.’ on the other hand, a man from amongst the inhabitants of paradise who suffered the greatest hardship in this world would be brought and dipped once in paradise, and it would be said to him, ‘o son of aadam, have you ever encountered any hardship? has any distress ever befallen you?’ he would say, ‘by allaah, no, my lord, i have never encountered any hardship or experienced any distress.’" [muslim]
