WHY WE ARE FASTING?
Mostly, people fasts because they are Muslims, but, is that reason enough? Abu Hurayra (RA) related that the Prophet (SAW) said:
"Whoever fasts Ramadan because of "Iman" [faith], seeking reward from Allah alone, will have his past sins forgiven; whoever prays at night during Ramadan because of Iman, seeking reward from Allah alone, will have his past sins forgiven, and whoever passes "Laylatul Qadr" [The blessed night] in prayer because of Iman, seeking reward from Allah alone, will have his past sins forgiven". [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
We should bear in our mind that to make our fasting acceptable by Allah (SWT), we should make more conscious efforts to improve our conduct and exhibit self-restraint. Allah (SWT) mentioned in the Qur'an:Sura al-Baqarah (2:183)
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may achieve "Taqwa" [righteousness],"
Abu Hurayrah reported that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
"If a person does not avoid vain talk and evil conduct during fasting, Allah (SAW) does not care if he abstain from food and drinks",[Relatede by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
FORGETFULNESS:
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
"If anyone forgets and eat or drinks by accident while he/she is fasting, he/she should complete his/her fast, for it is Allah who has fed him/her and given him/her drink",[Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
FASTING WHILE ON JOURNEY:
When the Prophet (SAW) was asked whether one should fast when on a journey, he replied,
"Fast if you like, or postpone it if you like", [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Applying oneself in all goodsdeeds in the last ten days of Ramadan:
Aysha (RA) said:
"When the last ten days come, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would pray most of the night and wake his family, and apply himself, and tighten up his loincloth." and she also said: "The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to strive in the last ten days of Ramadan more than he did during the other days." [Related by Muslim]
Abstaining from vain talk: Sins decrease the reward of fasting although they do not annul it. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if am fasting."[Related by al-Hakim] and he said:
"Whoever does not abandon lying, then Allah does not need him to abandon his food and drinks." [Related by al-Bukhari].
