ACURATE SIYAM

My dear respected elders in Islam ASSALAAMU ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAAH

All praise is due to Allah, the sustainer, the nourisher, and the grand possessor of the dominion of the heavens and the earth. I pray that His peace, tranquillity and blessings descend on my master Muhammad (SAW), his family and his noble companions.

Topic to discuss :

accurate siyam

My respected ones in Islam, I employ myself and you as well to embrace the fact that 'siyaam' or 'sawm' (fasting) is an eloquent expression of our creator, leading this blessed ummah to the gates of His mercy and at the same time the key to unlocking the mysteries of His nearness.May Allah grant us His nearness

By proceeding let’s look at de meaning of siyaam

Siyaam (fasting) in plain Arabic language means to 'abstain' or 'restrain' from normal things.

By "normal things" I mean, things that were not prohibited but prohibited because you are fasting.

Examples

Abstaining from food, any kind of drink, sexual intercourse, talking, retaliation etc

This reflect in the saying of Allah thus;

"...and if you do see any man say; I have vowed to the most Merciful to remain silent " (Qur'an 19:26)

The phrase "to remain silent" is the interpretation of the Arabic word 'sawm' or 'siyaam'

That is to abstain or refrain from talking

Pls u can read suratu Maryam verses 16 - 26 for deeper understanding

In essence the word 'sawm' cannot mean fast but for the sake of understanding we will keep it as such

May Allah make it easy for us to comprehend?

Now my brethren lets understand fasting (siyaam) under the microscope of islam

In the Islamic law, the word 'sawm' (fasting) implies a specific act, that is, " to worship Allah by abstaining, with the intention to please Him, from fast breakers such as food, drink, sexual intercourse or lustful discharge of semen from the period between the break of dawn until sundown or sunset"

Although the definition indicates restraining the stomach and private parts, but the tongue, eyes, ears and other limbs are equally obligated to be restrained if the 'saaim' (faster) wants to achieve accuracy or gain enormous rewards of fasting.

In view of this, my master Muhammad  (SAW) , on authority of Abu Hurairah (raa), compiled in Bukhari& Muslim says:

* He who does not refrain from obscene language and acting obscenely  (while fasting) , Allah has no need that he did not eat or drink"

I humbly ask de reader to reflect

Also recorded in IbnKhuzaimah, my master (S.A.W) says:

" Fasting is not only to restrain from food and drink, fasting is to restrain from obscene acts. If someone abuses you verbally or act ignorantly towards you, say (to them) ' I am fasting '; 'I am fasting'.

The above two traditions implies that fasting cannot be accurate or complete without three elements;

👉Restraining the stomach and private parts.

👉Restraining the other parts of the body , which may render the fast a multiplication of zero  (fast×0=0).

👉Restraining of the heart and mind from engaging in other things besides remembrance of Allah.

I humbly ask de reader to reflect

some benefits of fasting

Fasting is incomparable to all other virtuous deeds in Islam. The following tradition has the details.

Reported by Abu Hurairah that, the prophet (S.A.W.)  reported that Allah  (S.W.T.) said (sacred hadith or hadith Qudsi):

" All deeds of the son of Adam are for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I solely will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day you fast, do not use obscenity nor yell at others nor act ignorantly. However, if someone abuses you verbally or attempt to fight you, say 'I am fasting' 'I am fasting'. The prophet (S.A.W) then states: I swore by the One in whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, the breath of the faster is sweeter to Allah on the day of Judgment than the scent of musk. The faster experiences enjoymen t twice : he is pleased when he breaks his fast and he is pleased the day he meets his Maker"(Muslim).

I humbly ask de reader to reflect,Why Allah choses fasting for Himself exclusively.

Scholars interpretation;

👉There's possibility of show-off in all the acts of worship in islam but not so with fasting. How does one starve to please  someone.

👉Fasting is a covenant between one and his Maker. Because only the faster and Allah knows whether he is surely keeping fast or not.

👉The rewards of fasting cannot be quantified by human mind.

👉In history, kings and emperors some what has impose on their people to offer them acts of worship which are due for only Allah but not so with fasting.

Eg. People have praised their kings as an act of worship for them, others have bow for them, others have prostrated for their kings or spiritual leaders, others have offered them sacrifices, circulation of graves of saints as act of worship for them. But believe me you, no king has ever impose on his people to offer him fasting except the only true King (Allah) nor a nation out of their own will fast for their kings and saints except the servants of the only true King  (Allah). Because the above and many more Allah says ( hadithQudsi): "It is for Me and I solely rewards it."

My respected one in islam, imagine on the day of Judgment when you have lost all hopes in entering Janna. Your heart is filled with an overwhelming grieve and your tears starts to flow profusely, angels waiting for the command of Allah   for them cast you into the hell fire (may Allah protect us all) and all of a sudden someone comes to intercede on your behalf and Allah grant him the power to do that for you. Can you imagine what your reaction would be. Subscribe to fasting it will intercede for it's observers.

Ibnumar relates, the Prophet said :

"Fasting  (siyaam) and the Qur'an will intercede for the servant on the day of Judgment."(Ahmed)

Consider the one who combines fasting with the recitation of the Qur'an. I humbly ask the reader to reflect.

Types of fasting      

There are two types

Obligatory and voluntary

Lets multiply the voluntary by zero for now

The obligatory is of three kinds:

👉The fast for expiation of sins.

👉Fast of fulfilling a vow.

👉RAMADAN

Our concentration here would be on Ramadan and that would be ishaa Allah in our subsequent meetings.

May allah accept our fasting and have mercy on our dead ones

Your brother in islam:

YAHYA ABDUL JAWWAAD