Pivotal Quote
“The soul is like the physical body. If the physical body is not accustomed to exercise and it is accustomed to sitting around, initially exercise will be difficult. But if this individual accustoms himself to physical exercise, then he will gradually get used to it. So what is intended here is that if the person begins something that he is not used to, he may initially find it difficult. And due to this fact, from the wisdoms that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged the Muslims to do was to fast during Shaʿbān so that the individual accustoms himself to fasting and gets used to it in preparation for Ramaḍān. “
سؤال وجواب – عربي – ٥:٣٣ دقائق
Question and Answer – English [8:41]
Question:
Some of the new Muslims here have a hard time fasting in Ramaḍān since they are not accustomed to fasting. So what is your advice to the new Muslim who is experiencing his first fast?
Answer:
I advise these individuals that Islām is based upon striving and overcoming the self that inclines towards evil. If they strive against themselves, they will have a great reward. The reward of accepting Islām and the reward for striving against their selves to carry out this great form of worship.
The self, it works according to what it is accustomed to. Even the Muslim who has not accustomed himself to obeying Allāh and carrying out certain acts of worship, when he does engage in these acts of worship, he finds them heavy upon him initially. But if he accustoms himself to these acts of worship, he becomes used to them and they become easier upon him.
The soul is like the physical body. If the physical body is not accustomed to exercise and it is accustomed to sitting around, initially exercise will be difficult. But if this individual accustoms himself to physical exercise, then he will gradually get used to it. So what is intended here is that if the person begins something that he is not used to, he may initially find it difficult. And due to this fact, from the wisdoms that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) encouraged the Muslims to do was to fast during Shaʿbān so that the individual accustoms himself to fasting and gets used to it in preparation for Ramaḍān.
Likewise, if the individual does not stand up at night in prayer throughout the year, he finds it difficult in Ramaḍān during Tarāwīḥ or Qiyām al-Layl because he is not accustomed to it. The intent here is to clarify that the person is to accustom himself upon obedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). Doing this is from the forms of having patience for the Sake of Allāh, which we are commanded with. As Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) states,
﴾ وَٱلْعَصْرِ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ﴿
“By (the phenomenon of) time (which Allāh manifests through His creation of night and day and in which the servants perform their deeds). Indeed, (all of) mankind is in loss. Except those who believe (in Allāh, His Angels, Books, Prophets, the Last Day and the Divine Decree) and work righteous deeds (which are sincere and correct) and mutually advise each other (in calling to and abiding by) the truth and mutually advise each other with patience (in facing the inevitable harms brought by calling to the truth).” [Sūrah al-ʿAsr 103:1-3]
Patience is of different types:
- Patience with regards to obedience. The person is patient in his obedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى).
- Patience while refraining from sin or disobedience. So the person is patient in his refraining from disobedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى).
- Patience with regards to those things that Allāh has decreed.
- Patience in the face of harm he may endure in the Path of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى).
Jannah (Paradise) is not easily attained. And these affairs that Allāh has commanded us with, they are not too difficult or burdensome to carry out. Rather, like Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) stated,
﴾ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ﴿
“Allāh burdens not a person beyond his scope.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:286]
The individual must accustom himself to doing these acts of worship, and fasting is something that the individual is capable of doing. Allāh has commanded us with it and Allāh (عز وجل) has also stated,
﴾ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ ﴿
“Allāh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:185]
Thus, if it was not possible for us, Allāh would not have commanded us with it. So the individual must also reflect upon the fruits of fasting and the reward he attains due to this fasting. Also, with regards to the reward, he must reflect upon the ḥadīth Qudsī wherein the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) mentioned that Allāh has specified the reward of fasting as being with Him. As Allāh says, “Fasting is for Me and I reward the person who does so.” That reward is with Allāh (عز وجل), and Allāh (عز وجل) is The Most Generous.
So the Muslim who knows this understands that the reward for fasting is an immense reward. And knowing this is something that encourages him, and in this encouragement he strives against himself in obedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). Likewise, he is cognizant that breaking his fast without a valid reason is something that is prohibited. And also, he recognizes that fasting is a pillar of Islām. So as soon as he becomes Muslim it is obligatory upon him to fast, to pray and to carry out those things that Allāh has made obligatory upon him. And it is obligatory upon him to do those things that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has commanded him with. Islām is based on these pillars and it is not simply changing a person’s religion on official documents—no. Islām is acted upon.
And when Jibrīl (عليه السلام) asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about Islām in the well-known ḥadīth, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied, “Islām is that you bear witness that nothing is worthy of worship except Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) and that Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is His Servant and Messenger and that you establish the Prayer and that you pay the Zakāh and that you fast Ramaḍān and that you make Ḥajj if you have the means.” So Islām is not simply a claim or empty hopes or statements. Rather, it is belief and action. It is obedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) and it is leaving off disobedience to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى)—this is Islām.