Siyam (Fasting) (Jamal A. Badawi)

ISBN: None
Author: Jamal A. Badawi
Publisher: The Islamic Society of North America (1998)
Pages: 29 Binding: Paperback

Description from the publisher:

Introduction:

Siyam is one of the main pillars of Islam. It is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah.In the Quran we read:"0 you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint..." (2: 183).Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said "(The superstructure of) Islam is raised on five (pillars), the Oneness of Allah, the establishment of Prayer, payment of Zakah, the fast of Ramadan and the Pilgrimage (to Mecca)." (Muslim).Based upon the Quran and Sunnah, it has been the consensus of Muslims throughout history that a Muslim who rejects the legitimacy of Si'yam rejects Islam as well. The Prophet (PBUH) said: ?Whoever breaks the fast of one day of Ramadan, without a valid excuse or (not due to) illness, fasting forever will not make up for it (i.e., the missed day) even if he/she did fast it.? (al-Bukhari)He has also said about the significance of Si'yam : ?A great month, a blessed month, containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. Allah has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of (a part of) its nights in prayer as voluntary practice. If someone draws near to Allah during it with some good act, he will be (in reward) like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfils an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfils seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance and the reward of endurance is paradise . . . It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is freedom from hell. (al?Bayhaqi)In another Hadeeth Abu Huraira reported the messenger of Allah as saying: ?He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.? (al-Bukhari & Muslim)Throughout the centuries during this blessed month Allah (S.W.T.)4 enabled sincere Muslims to achieve major victories including:1. The Battle of Badr (year 2 Hi/ri)2. The Return to and Conquest of Mecca. (year 8 Hijri)3. The Opening conquest of Rhodes. (year 53 Hijri)4. Muslims' successful landing on the Coast of Spain. (year 91 Hijri)5. Muslims' victory under Tariq Ibn Ziyaad against the King of Spain. (year 92 Hijri)6. Salahuddin's victory against the invading Crusaders (year 584 Hijri)7. Muslims' victory against the invading French army led by Louis ix who was taken as a war prisoner in Mansoura, Egypt. (year 647 Hijri)8. Mamluks' victory against the invading Tartars in the battle of 'Am Galoot. (year 658 Hijri).