Allah The Almighty created humankind and made them His vicegerents on Earth. He was Pleased with the status of servitude for them, and what an honored status it is! To perfect this status, He, Glorified be He, Ordained acts of worship upon them. Moreover, His Infinite Wisdom, Almighty and Majestic, necessitated that these acts of worship be diverse: some are spiritual (of the heart), some are physical, and some are financial.
Among what Allah The Almighty has Made obligatory is fasting. This great act of worship is distinguished from other acts of worship by many unique characteristics. I will summarize some of these features in the following aspects:
Firstly: Elevated Status Directly Attributed to Allah
Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, elevated the status of fasting by attributing it directly to Himself. Al-Bukhari and others narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) Said (What means): Relating from his Lord, the Exalted and Glorified: "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is for Me, and I shall Reward for it." This unique distinction was granted only to fasting, even while all other acts of worship are also revered. Due to this, a fasting person possesses a noble soul, high aspirations, and strong resolve in their fast. They know that this fast is for Allah the Almighty, and thus endure every hardship and difficulty to complete their fast in the manner that Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, approves.
Secondly: Regarding the Reward
Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, has also Designated a distinct reward and Reckoning for fasting, different from other acts of worship. Just as Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, Singled out fasting and attributed it to Himself, He likewise Designated an immense reward for it, stating in the Hadith Qudsi (What means): "And I shall Reward for it." The reward is commensurate with The Giver of the reward, Who is Allah, The Exalted and Glorified.
Fasting is also half of patience, as reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the hadith narrated by Ibn Majah and others. Since, Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, Said (What means): "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." [Az-Zumar/10]. Thus, fasting person will receive their reward without account. As Al-Imam Al-Ghazali mentioned in "Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din" about fasting: "Its reward has surpassed the law of estimation and calculation." Furthermore, Allah, The Most Glorified, has Designated a special gate in Paradise for those who fast, known as the gate of Ar-Rayyan.
Thirdly: A Worship Hidden from Others
Fasting is a form of worship that only Allah The Almighty is Aware of, making it the furthest removed from Riya' (showing off) and hypocrisy. Just as Allah's Wisdom necessitated that fasting be for Him, The Exalted and Glorified, it also necessitated that the fasting person's own self be with Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, connected to Him in an act of worship that no one else can observe. Allah has Honored fasting by keeping it far from anything that might compromise it, such as Riya', hypocrisy, or seeking reputation. He did this by Making it a hidden act of worship, unseen by people, and its immediate effects unnoticeable to them.
Fourthly: Regarding Sharia Rulings
Fasting differs from other acts of worship in certain Sharia rulings. For instance, the intention (Niyyah) for fasting must precede the act itself, meaning the intention must be made a period of time—even if brief—before the fast begins. In contrast, for most other acts of worship, the intention must be concurrent with the act, and it is not valid if the intention precedes the action.
Fifthly: A Worship of Abstinence and Concurrence with Other Acts
Despite its high rank and immense reward, fasting is primarily an act of abstinence (Tark) rather than an active deed (Fi'l). This grants fasting an additional advantage: the ability to combine it with other acts of worship. A fasting person can pray, recite the Quran, and engage in other good deeds simultaneously. By doing so, they perform multiple acts of worship at once, all of which contribute to their benefit, elevating their reward and status.
We ask Allah, The Magnificent, Lord of the Noble Throne, to Bless us in Ramadan and to Help us increase in reward and recompense therein. Indeed, He is The Guardian of that and The One Capable of it. And all Perfect praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
