Articles

The Fruit of Fasting: "God-fearing"
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 01-07-2014

The Fruit of Fasting: "The Fear of Allah, The Most Exalted"

His Grace/The Mufti-General: Abdulkareem Al-Khassawneh

Ramadan is the month of blessings, and fasting it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Allah, The Almighty, prescribed it to Muslims as He had done to those before them: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." [Al-Baqarah/183]. The aim of fasting and its fruit are meant to make a fasting person have piety in Allah's Sight and All that which He has forbidden.

 

The command for fearing Allah is what He enjoined/directed those of old and those of later times to do. Allah Says in The Glorious Quran (What means): "Verily we have directed the People of the Book before you, and you (O Muslims) to fear Allah." [An-Nisa`/131].

 

Actually, those who adhere to Allah`s direction achieve great success, but those who fail to do so are at manifest loss. Therefore, we should strive to hold on to the directives of Allah until we die doing that. Allah, The Almighty, Says in the Holy Quran (What means): "O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam." [Al `Imran/102]. I.e. fear Allah as he should be feared. Ibn Mas'ood (May Allah be pleased with him)said: "Allah is to be obeyed so as not to be disobeyed, to be remembered so as not to be forgotten, and to be thanked so as not to be shown ingratitude."

Al Imam Al-Ghazali added: "God-fearing is a great treasure which once obtained, one will have generous sustenance and great dominion because it contains all that is good in the life of this world and in the Hereafter."

 

The Glorious Quran has shown many benefits for God-fearing:

 

First: Being made a way out and being provided for from sources that one never could imagine. Allah Says (What means): "And for those who fear God, He (ever) prepares a way out, And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine." [At-Talaq/2-3]. Accordingly, one who fears Allah and abides by His injunctions, Allah prepares a way out for him, and provides for him from sources he never could imagine.

 

Second: Allah, The Almighty, protects the nation against its enemies as long as its people are pious and fear Him. Allah Says (What means): "But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for God Compasseth round about all that they do." [Al-Imran/120]. Therefore, one who observes piety in his words and deeds won`t be harmed by the cunning of the enemies.

 

Third:  Accepting righteous deeds. Allah, The Most Exalted, Says (What means): "Surely," said the former, "(Allah) doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous." [Al-Mai`dah/27]. Thus, one who fears Allah and has sincere intentions, Allah Accepts his righteous deeds: This indicates that an act of obedience is only accepted from a God-fearing believer.

 

Fourth: The love and the good pleasure of God. Allah Says (What means): "for God doth love the righteous." [At-Tawbah/7].

 

Fifth: God`s friends are the people of piety, and it is their provision in the life of this world and in the Hereafter since Allah says in this regard: "And take provision. But the best provision is piety." [Al-Baqarah/197]. Those who take piety as their best provision, Allah bestows upon them, in the life of this world and in the Hereafter, that which pleases them: While on their death bed, the angels give them glad tidings of Allah`s good pleasure and mercy. In the Hereafter, they give them good tidings of the Gardens of Bliss and great triumph. Allah Says (What means): "Behold! verily on the friends of God there is no fear, nor shall they grieve; Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil;- For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present and in the Hereafter; no change can there be in the words of God. This is indeed the supreme felicity." [Yunus/62-64]. 

 

Sixth: The comparison between people is based on the depth of their piety, and not on their descent; therefore, one who aspires for honor in the life of this world and a privileged place in the Hereafter should fear God. Allah Says in this regard (What means): "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." [Al-Hujurat/13].

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

I had my menstrual period at the beginning of Ramadan for six days, then it ended and I became pure. After four days, I started noticing some blood again, which has lasted for two days now, but it is not as heavy as menstrual blood. Is this blood considered menstrual blood, and what is the ruling regarding my prayers, fasting, and reading the Quran during this period?
 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
The minimum duration of menstruation is one day and one night, and its maximum is fifteen days. Any blood beyond this period is considered irregular bleeding (Istihada). Since the bleeding did not exceed fifteen days, it is considered menstrual blood within the regular cycle. Therefore, you should not pray or fast until the bleeding stops and the signs of purity appear. If the bleeding stops before fifteen days from when it first started, then all the blood you saw is considered menstrual blood, and you must make up the fasts, but not the prayers. If it exceeds fifteen days, then the first six days are menstrual blood, and the blood that follows is considered irregular bleeding. Your prayers and fasting are valid, and there is no issue with them. And Allah Knows Best."
 
*This answer was updated on [18/5/2023].

Is photography forbidden, such as photographs of children?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
If there is a need for taking photographs of children or adults, then this is allowed. However, taking photographs of women shouldn`t be tolerated. Rather, they must be taken while wearing Hijab and must be kept in safe hands. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I`m a cashier at a branch of the Civil Service Consumer Corporation. Sometimes, customers pay more than the due amount. Do I have the right to take that extra money knowing that I cover shortages from my own salary?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
If customers give that money willingly to help you with the potential loss then this is permissible. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a woman whose menses exceeded (15) days to pray, fast and do what was prohibited on her to do during the latter period?

If the menses exceeded 15 days then it is deemed menstruation, and in this case she is obliged to pray and fast and to do what was impermissible for her to do during the latter period. In addition, she is obliged to make an ablution for each obligatory prayer after it's due time and making sure that impuity is removed. Finally, your menstruation period is over (Questioner) simlar to your menstruation in the previos month.