اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه The virtues of Nafl fasts are incredible. Here are two Ahadees with regards to this:

1. Angels make Du’a for forgiveness

Sayyidatuna Umm-e-‘Umarah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا has reported, ‘The Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم visited my home and I served some food in the blessed court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to me, ‘You eat too.’ I replied that I am fasting. The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘As long as food is eaten in front of a fasting person, the angels continue to supplicate for his forgiveness.’ (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 205, Hadees 785)

2. When do the bones of a fasting person glorify Allah D?

Once Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ came into the blessed court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم when the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was having breakfast. The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O Bilal! Have breakfast.’ Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ said, ‘Ya Rasoolallah (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَـلَيْـهِ وَاٰلـِهٖ وَسَـلَّم)! I am fasting.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘We are eating our sustenance while Bilal’s sustenance is increasing in Paradise. O Bilal! Are you aware that as long as food is eaten in front of a person who is fasting, his bones continue to glorify Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the angels supplicate for him.’

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 297, Hadees 3586)

The renowned commentator of the Holy Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has stated, ‘It is evident from this that if a guest arrives whilst you are eating, asking him to eat is a Sunnah. However, this offer should be from the heart and not due to fake humbleness.

The guest should not tell a lie saying that he has no desire to eat. Instead, if the guest sees that there is less food or if he does not feel the desire to eat, then he should say بَـارَكَ اللّٰه (May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant you blessings). It has also been revealed that one need not conceal his good deeds from the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, rather these should be made apparent so that the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم may bear witness for these deeds. This revelation does not fall in the category of showing off.’ The explanation of that which was said after being informed of Sayyiduna Bilal’s fasting is as follows, ‘We are eating our sustenance of today here, whereas Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْـهُ will be given sustenance to eat in exchange for this in Paradise, and that reward will be better in quality and more in quantity. This Hadees is upon its apparent meaning. Every bone and every joint and even every vein of the body of the fasting person glorifies Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ at that time in actual fact, of which that person is unaware, but the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم hears it. (Mirat, vol. 3, pp. 202)

(Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه has said) Even if you have studied them before, re-read both the following booklets: (1) Return of the Shroud with the Blessings of Rajab-ul-Murajjab and (2) The Month of My Prophet      صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Also, go through the chapter Blessings of Ramadan from Faizan-e-Sunnat every year in the month of Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam without fail. If possible, distribute 127 or 27 booklets with the connection of Eid-e-Mi’raaj-un-Nabi صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَـلَيْـهِ وَاٰلـِهٖ وَسَـلَّم (which falls on the 27^th of Rajab), or distribute Blessings of Ramadan according to your capacity to earn immense Sawab.

Islamic sisters should encourage other Islamic sisters and their Maharim to donate.

Special point

It is Fard for those Islamic sisters who want to collect donations to learn the necessary Islamic rulings of donations. Even if you have read it before, I emphasise that you must read the book ‘Chanday kay baaray mayn Suwal Jawab (Questions and Answers about Donations)’ consisting of 96 pages, published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah, the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami.

O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Those Islamic sisters (when there is no valid exemption) who fast for three months every year, and read or listen to the books ‘Return of the Shroud’ in Jumadal Ukhra, ‘The Month of My Prophet’ in Rajab-ul-Murajjab and ‘Blessings of Ramadan’ (completely) in Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam, O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Bestow Your blessings upon them and upon me in this worldly life as well as in the afterlife, forgive us without any accountability, and keep us in the neighbourhood of Your Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Paradise. اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم