قَالَ الله تَعَالىٰ: {يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبلِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تَتَّقُونَ} إلىٰ قوله: {شَهرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلقُرءَانُ هُدى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰت مِّنَ ٱلهُدَىٰ وَٱلفُرقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَو عَلَىٰ سَفَر فَعِدَّة مِّن أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ} الآية [البقرة 183 – 185].
Allah Almighty says: {O you who believe, fasting has been decreed upon you as it was decreed upon those before you so that you may become righteous.} Till the verse that says: {Ramadān is a month in which the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance for mankind and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So whoever of you witnesses this month, should fast. But if anyone is ill or on a journey, he should make up for those days...} [Surat al-Baqarah: 183-185]
1) صيام رمضان من أصول الإسلام، وخصال التقوىٰ، وتركه من كبائر الذنوب .
1) Fasting Ramadan is one of the fundamentals of Islam and acts of piety. Failure to observe it is a major sin.
2) إظهار فضيلة هذه الأمة، لمّا شرع الله لها من الفرائض مَا تنافس به الأمم السابقة، ليعظم أجرها وقدرها.
2) It highlights the merit of this Ummah, as Allah Almighty has prescribed for it such obligations for which it vies with past nations, so that its reward would be increased and its rank would be elevated.
3) من أعظم الحِكَم في فرض الصوم حصول التقوىٰ للصائمين، فالله لا يريد أن يعذب العباد بترك مَا يشتهون ويألفون {وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقوَىٰ مِنكُم}.
3) A main purpose behind prescribing the fast is the attainment of piety. Indeed, Allah does not wish to torment His servants by depriving them of what they desire and are used to. {But what reaches Him is piety from you.}
4) الترغيب في قبول رخصة الشارع في مشروعية إفطار المريض والمسافر، والله تَعَالىٰ يحب أن تُؤتىٰ رخصه كما يحب أن تُؤتىٰ فرائضه.
4) We are exhorted to accept the dispensation given by the Almighty Legislator for not fasting in the case of illness or travel. Indeed, Allah Almighty loves that His dispensations be taken just as He loves His obligations to be discharged.
فقد تقدمت في الباب الذي قبله.
they have already been cited in the previous chapter.
1/1215ــ وَعَنْ أَبي هُريرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «قَالَ اللهُ _عز وجل_: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إلاَ الصِّيَامَ، فَإنَّهُ لي وأنا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ، فَإذا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمٍ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلا يَرْفُثْ وَلا يصخَبْ، فَإنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ، فَلْيَقُلْ: إنِّي صَائِمٌ. وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ الله مِنْ رِيحِ المِسْكِ، لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا؛ إذا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ بِفِطْرِهِ، وَإذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِه». متفقٌ عليه.
1215/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah, the Exalted, said: ‘All deeds of the son of Adam are for himself, except for fasting; it is for Me, and I give the reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield. When anyone of you is fasting, he should avoid obscene language and loud voice, and if anyone curses him or quarrels with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting.’ By the One in Whose hand the soul of Muhammad is, the breath of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk. A fasting person has two occasions of joy: When he breaks his fast, he feels joy for breaking his fast, and when he meets his Lord, he feels joy for his fast.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
وهذا لفظ روايةِ الْبُخَاري.
This is the wording narrated by Al-Bukhāri.
وفي روايةٍ له: «يَترُكُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أجْلي، الصِّيَامُ لي وَأنا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا».
In another version by him: “He leaves his food, drink, and desire for My sake. Fasting is for Me, and I give reward for it. Every good deed is rewarded by ten times its kind.”
وفي روايةٍ لمسلم: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ؛ الحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إلىٰ سَبْعِمِائةِ ضِعْف. قال الله تعالىٰ: إلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإنَّهُ لي وَأَنا أَجْزي بِهِ، يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي. لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَان؛ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ، وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ. وَلَخُلُوفُ فيهِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ الله مِنْ رِيحِ المِسْكِ».
In a version by Muslim: “Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times. Allah said: ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me, and I give reward for it. He gives up his lust and his food for My sake.’ The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. The smell that comes out of the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk.”
جُنة: مَا يستتر به، أي الصوم وقاية وستر من النار.
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يرفث: يتكلم الكلام الفاحش.
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يصخب: من الصخب وهو: رفع الصوت واللغط فيه.
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خلوف: تغير رائحة الفم من أثر الصيام.
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1) الصيام من أعظم العبادات إخلاصاً لله تَعَالىٰ، فإنه سرٌّ بين العبد وربِّه، ولذلك اختصه الله تَعَالىٰ من بين سائر الأعمال.
1) Fasting is one of the greatest acts of worship in terms of sincerity to Allah Almighty, as it remains a secret between a servant and his Lord. That is why Allah Almighty has given it a special merit.
2) اشتمل الصوم علىٰ أنواع الصبر كلها؛ صبر علىٰ طاعة الله، وصبر عَنْ معصية الله، وصبر علىٰ أقدار الله تَعَالىٰ ، فلما اشتمل علىٰ أنواع الصبر كلها كَانَ أجره بغير حساب.
2) Fasting comprises all types of patience: patience in performing worship to Allah, patience in refraining from sins, and patience over the decrees predestined by Allah. As it includes all different forms of patience, it has deserved to entail unlimited reward.
3) المؤمن يفرح بإتمام فريضة من فرائض الله تَعَالىٰ، وبما أحل الله لَهُ من محبوبات النفوس، وهذا هو شأن المؤمن يفرح بالطاعة إذَا أتمها .
3) The believer feels joy when he completes one of the obligations prescribed by his Lord and he can now enjoy the good things permissible for him. This is the right attitude of a believer: He is pleased to complete an act of worship to Allah Almighty.
4) الحث علىٰ امتثال الوصية النبوية في عدم مقابلة المسيء بالإساءة، بل يكرم الصائمُ نفسَه، ويرفعها عَنْ السبّ والشتم.
4) We are urged to act upon the Prophet’s advice not to respond to evil with evil; rather, a fasting person should honor himself by rising above cursing and name-calling.
هذا الحديث فيه نوعان من أنواع الحديث: ألفاظ قدسية: من كلام الله تَعَالىٰ، وألفاظ نبوية: من كلام النَّبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فاجتمع فيه وصف الحديث القدسي والحديث النبوي.
This Hadīth involves two kinds of Hadīth: a divine statement and a prophetic one. So, it fits the description of both Qudsi and Prophetic Hadīth.
2/1216ــ وعنه أنّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «مَن أنْفَقَ زوجيْن في سبيلِ اللهِ نُودي من أبواب الجَنَّة: يا عَبْدَ الله، هذا خيرٌ ، فَمَنْ كَانَ من أهل الصَّلاة دُعيَ من باب الصَّلاة، ومن كَانَ من أهلِ الجهادِ دُعيَ من باب الجهَاد، ومَنْ كَانَ من أهْل الصِّيَام دُعيَ من باب الرَّيَّان، ومن كَانَ من أهل الصدَقَة دُعي من باب الصَّدَقة» قَالَ أبو بكر رضي الله عنه: بأبي أنتَ وأُمي يارسول الله! مَا علىٰ مَنْ دُعيَ من تلك الأبواب من ضرورَة، فهلْ يُدعىٰ أحدٌ من تلك الأبواب كلِّهَا؟ قَالَ: «نعم، وأرجُو أن تكونَ منهم». متفق عليه.
1216/2 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise: ‘O servant of Allah, this gate is better for you’; the regular performer of prayer will be called from the gate of prayer; whoever is regular in fighting in the cause of Allah will be called from the gate of Jihad; he who is regular in observing fasting will be called from the Rayyān gate; and the one who is generous in charity will be called from the gate of charity.” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Messenger of Allah, may my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?” He replied: “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) الحث علىٰ الإكثار من نوافل العبادات، ليُدعىٰ العبد من أيِّ باب من أبواب الطاعات.
1) It urges us to perform a lot of voluntary acts of worship so that we would be called from one of those gates on the Day of Judgment.
2) فتح أبواب رحمة الله تَعَالىٰ للعباد، حَتَّىٰ يتنافس أهل الإيمان في العبادات.
2) Allah Almighty opens the gates of His mercy to His servants to encourage them to compete in worshiping and doing good.
3) إن باب الريان الذي يَروي الصائمين أحد أبواب الجنة الثمانية.
3) The Rayyān gate that will give water to the fasting people to drink is one of the eight gates of Paradise.
4) فضيلة خاصة لأبي بكر الصِّدِّيق؛ فقد بشّره رَسُول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه ممن يُدعىٰ من هذه الأبواب كلها، إكراماً لَهُ رضي الله عنه، لأنه حاز أبواب الخير كلها.
4) It highlights a special merit for Abu Bakr as-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him), as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave him glad tidings that he would be one of those called from all these gates, in honor of him, since he engaged in all these kinds of goodness.
3/1217 ــ وعن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «إنَّ في الجَنَّة باباً يُقالُ لَهُ: الرَّيَّانُ، يدخل منهُ الصائمونَ يومَ القيامةِ، لا يدخلُ منهْ أحدٌ غيرُهُم، يقال: أينَ الصَّائمون؟ فيقومون لا يدخلُ منهُ أحدٌ غيرهُم، فإذا دَخلُوا أُغلقَ، فلم يدخل منه أحدٌ». متفق عليه.
1217/3 - Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is a gate in Paradise called the Rayyān through which only those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter through it. It will be called out: ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ So they will stand up and proceed towards it. When the last of them has entered, the gate will be closed, and no one else will enter through it.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) من رحمة الله تعالىٰ وإكرامه للصائمين أن فتح لهم باباً لا يشاركهم فيه غيرهم.
1) Out of mercy towards fasting people and in honor of them, Allah Almighty has opened to them a gate through which only they will enter.
2) الجزاء من جنس العمل؛ فكما أَخلص الصائمون لله تَعَالىٰ صومهم، أَخلص ربهم لهم ثوابهم.
2) Recompense for a deed is of the same kind of the deed. As fasting people observe their fast exclusively for the sake of Allah Almighty, He gives them an exclusive reward.
4/1218ــ وعَنْ أبي سَعيدٍ الخُدْريِّ رضي الله عنه قالَ: قالَ رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوماً في سَبِيلِ الله إلَّا بَاعَدَ الله بِذلكَ اليَومِ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفاً». متفقٌ عليه.
1218/4 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a person fasts a day in the cause of Allah, Allah will certainly keep his face away from Hellfire by virtue of this day for seventy years.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) من أعظم الأعمال أجراً، قرْنُ الصيام مع الجهاد في سبيل الله، لأنه يجمع بين الفضيلتين.
1) One of the greatest acts in terms of reward is to observe fast along with Jihad in the cause of Allah, for this combines the two virtues.
2) فضيلة الإخلاص لله تَعَالىٰ في صوم النافلة، لأن العبد لا يصوم في أيام الجهاد إلا لتمام إخلاصه لله تَعَالىٰ.
2) It shows the merit of sincerity towards Allah Almighty in observing voluntary fast, as a person will not fast during days of Jihad except because he is completely sincere to his Lord.
5/1219ــ عَنْ أبي هُرَيْرةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «مَنْ صامَ رَمَضَانَ إيماناً واحتساباً ، غُفرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ من ذَنْبِهِ». متفق عليه.
1219/5 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever observes fasting during Ramadan faithfully and expecting its reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) بيان الأجر العظيم في صيام رمضان فهو سبب لغفران الذنوب.
1) It points out the great reward for fasting Ramadan, as it is a reason for expiation of sins.
2) إن الإيمان بالله تَعَالىٰ واحتساب الأجر، مع تمام الإخلاص لله سبحانه، من أجلّ الطاعات.
2) Faith in Allah and the pursuit of reward from Him, along with complete sincerity towards Him, are among the most sublime acts of worship.
6/1220ــ وعنه رضي الله عنه أنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «إذَا جاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أبوابُ الجنَّة ، وغُلِّقت أبوابُ النَّار، وصُفِّدَت الشَّيَاطينُ». متفق عليه.
1220/6 - He also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
صُفِّدت الشَّياطين: قُـيِّدَت وحُبِسَت.
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1) من خصائص شهر رمضان أنه تُفتح فيه أبواب الجنة، ترغيباً للعاملين في الإكثار من الطاعات، وتُغلق فيه أبواب النيران لكثرة الطائعين من المؤمنين، وتقييدِ الشياطين عَنْ الشرور.
1) Among the characteristics of Ramadan is that the gates of Paradise are opened therein to encourage people to increase their good deeds. The gates of Hellfire are closed, given the plenty of believers engaged in acts of worship and piety. Moreover, the devils are chained and prevented from doing evil.
2) إخبار النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الأمة بذلك، نصحاً لها، وترغيباً في الخير، وتحذيراً من الشر.
2) As sincere advice to his Ummah, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed them about that. Thereby, he encouraged them to do good and warned them of evil.
3) وجوب التصديق بخبر النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الغيبي، لأنه {وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلهَوَىٰٓ * إِن هُوَ إِلَّا وَحي يُوحَىٰ}.
3) It is obligatory to believe whatever the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed us regarding the unseen, because {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.}
7/1221ــ وعنهُ أَنَّ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قالَ: «صُوْمُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فإن غَبِي عَليكم فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلاثين». متفقٌ عليه وهذا لفظ البخاري.
1221/7 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Observe fast on sighting it (i.e. the new moon) and break fast on sighting it, but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the days of Sha‘bān as thirty.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim; this is the wording of Al-Bukhāri]
وفي روايةِ مسلم: «فَإن غُمَّ عَليكم فَصُوموا ثَلاثِينَ يَوْماً».
In a version by Muslim: “But if the sky is cloudy for you, then fast thirty days.”
غَبِي: بفتح الغين وكسر الباء، بمعنىٰ خفي.
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غُم: حال بينكم وبينه غيم فلم تروه.
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1) إن وجوب صوم شهر رمضان يكون برؤية هلال الشهر، أو إكمال شعبان ثلاثين يوماً، والخروج من الصيام يحصل برؤية هلال شوال، أو إكمال رمضان ثلاثين يوماً. حتىٰ نطرح الشك، ونبني العبادة علىٰ يقين تام أو ظن راجح.
1) Fasting of Ramadan becomes due upon sighting its moon or the completion of Sha‘bān as thirty days. Likewise, the end of fast is determined by sighting the moon of Shawwāl or the completion of Ramadan as thirty days. This is to remove any doubt, and base our acts of worship upon certainty or high likelihood.
2) إذا خفي هلال رمضان وجب إتمام شهر شعبان ثلاثين يوماً، ولا يجوز صيام يوم الشك قبل رمضان، ومن صامه فقد عصىٰ أبا القاسم صلى الله عليه وسلم.
2) If the moon of Ramadan is obscure, we are required to complete Sha‘bān as thirty days, and it is not permissible to fast the doubtful day preceding Ramadan. Whoever fasts it, has indeed disobeyed the Prophet’s command.
إن اتباع السنة يكون بإتمام العدة، وليس بصيام يوم الشك. بزعم أنه أحوط وأكمل، بل كل الخير في متابعة هدي النبي المرسل. ولو كان في صوم يوم الشك خيراً لدلَّ الأمة علىٰ ذلك. فالزم تعليمه، هُديت أرشد المسالك.
Following the Sunnah is achieved by completing Sha‘bān as thirty days in case the moon cannot be seen, and not by fasting the doubtful day preceding Ramadan on the grounds of caution. Indeed, all goodness lies in adhering to the Prophet’s guidance. If fasting the doubtful day were good, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would have instructed the Ummah to do so. We should stick to his teachings, which guide us to the most correct path.