are those who fasted?” They shall stand, and none but them shall pass through it. Once they have entered, the gate will be closed, and no one else shall enter through it.^[1]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه ! How fortunate are those who fast, for they shall be granted a unique honour on the Day of Resurrection. While other fortunate souls will enter Paradise in groups, those who fasted will enter through Bāb al-Rayyān.

Dear Islamic brothers! Just as fasting is a source of immense virtue and reward, neglecting it is a cause of deprivation and misfortune. Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

"مَنْ اَدْرَکَ رَمَضَانَ وَلَمْ یَصُمْهُ فَقَدْ شَقِیَ" — "Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not fast, he is indeed wretched."^[2]

The Harm of Missing a Single Fast

If a person deliberately misses a single fast of Ramadan without a valid lawful excuse, he will never attain the virtue of that missed fast, even if he fasted for the rest of his life.

Sayyidunā Abū Hurairah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

Whoever does not observe a fast of Ramadan without an excuse or illness, then fasting for a lifetime cannot compensate for it, even if he were to observe it later.^[3]

This signifies that the special virtue associated with a fast of Ramadan