Mom do I need to Fast?

Mom, I am hungry…I am thirsty…can I eat and drink? Can I?

Mom can i fast?
Mom can I break my fast?
My childs plea to eat has come at 12 noon, just when the sun is at it’s peak, it’s hot rays beaming down quite warmly on the children.  It’s this moment during Ramadan that pushes children to break their fast.

Mom, why do we have to fast this hot day? Why is it of the 12 months its only 1 month we have to fast? Why do we have to fast anyways? Or maybe just fast forever?

My lips twitching holding back a smile as I try to seriously answer my child’s question. My mind racing to think of a logical and easy way to answer the question. 

If you fast all day how does it feel?

If you fast for 12 months how does it feel?

Why does Allah order us to fast 1 month only? Allah is the all Knowing, and knows the capabilities of his creation.  Allah is reminding His man of his duties and by ordering us to fast it allows people to restart or revise their habits. As an example, if you go to school for a week you need a break which is the weekend.  It is the same concept as going to school, there is always a time period for evaluation.  This time is important so you can review your accomplishments from the year prior. And on those subjects you are missing good grades on you can fix them. This is the same concept with the month of Ramadan.  This is the month filled with reflection and re-evaluation.   It is a time to remind oneself to fulfill spiritual side of yourself in which you probably cast aside because you were busy with many activity in this dunia.

So my dear child, while you are fasting what do you feel? Hunger? Thirst? If you want to good “grade” from Allah set.  you would try your best to finish fasting until Maghrib.  This discipline builds your character and personality.  You will know and understand how to control and abstain yourself from food, drink and emotions. And there are many emotions you go through during your fast.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعمِائَة ضِعْفٍ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ وَلَخُلُوفُ فِيهِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ
Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is  

done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. (Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, lafadz from Muslim).

From Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam said:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Who is fasting in Ramadan imanan wa ihtisaban (with faith and expecting reward), his past sins are forgiven.” (Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
Fasting the whole month of Ramadan will not only allow you to gain a multitude of good deeds but also hopefully create a good habit to fast other months. And so what happens if we are hungry don’t worry time passes fast and Maghrib arrives soon! Remember the enjoyment of breaking your fast. Subhanallah. Always remember the amount of good deeds we gain from Allah SWT.
So… how is your fast today? If you got good grades in school, or had a great job evaluation last year how about your “grades” for fasting this year? It should be better than last year.

 

 

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