Hajja Amina Adil Sultanق: The Hidden Rewards and Spiritual Realities of Fasting

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

Rasulullah ﷺ said, “On the Day of Judgment, a group from my nation will be given wings and will arrive at the walls of Paradise. The gatekeepers of Paradise will ask them, ‘Who are you?’ They will reply, ‘We are from the nation of Muhammad ﷺ.’

The angels will ask, ‘Have you been judged?’ They will reply, ‘No.’ The angels will ask, ‘Have you crossed the Bridge of Sirat?’ They will reply, ‘No.’ The angels will ask, ‘How did you attain this rank?’ They will reply, ‘By the command of our Lord ﷻ, we used to practise a secret form of worship, which is fasting, and He brought us here by hidden paths.’”

Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Allah Almighty has granted my nation five blessings not given to any nation before mine. The first is the Gaze of Mercy which Allah ﷻ bestows upon them during the first night of Ramadan, and whoever receives this Gaze will never be touched by everlasting punishment.

The second is that Allah ﷻ commands His angels to seek forgiveness for the nation of Muhammad ﷺ.

The third is that the smell from the mouth of a fasting servant is more beloved to Allah than musk or amber.

The fourth is that Allah Almighty commands Paradise, ‘Adorn yourself and prepare, for My fasting servant is approaching you.’

The fifth is that Allah ﷻ grants pardon to every member of the nation of Muhammad ﷺ for proclaiming: La ilaha illa Llah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.”

One day Prophet Musa (AS) said, “O my Lord ﷻ, You have honoured me greatly and spoken to me directly without any mediator. Can there be a greater honour than this?”

Allah Almighty replied, “O Musa (AS), it is true that I speak to you without mediation, but between you and Me there are seventy thousand veils. Near the end of time, I will send a Prophet named Muhammad ﷺ to a weak nation, and I will command them to fast one month each year. Every evening when they break their fast, I will send down mercy and grace upon them, leaving only the veil of death between them and Me.”

Blessed are those who endure hunger and thirst for Allah ﷻ’s sake, for Allah draws especially near to them.

Many righteous saints have spoken about the immense rewards prepared for those who fast, pray, and remember Allah ﷻ during Ramadan. The gardens of Paradise and their inhabitants eagerly await those who honour this sacred month.

Rasulullah ﷺ said that when the crescent moon of Ramadan appears, all the angels around the Divine Throne rejoice and proclaim glad tidings for the nation of Muhammad ﷺ. The sun, the moon, the stars, the creatures of the sea, and the birds in the air all seek forgiveness for those who fast.

Only Shaytan cries out in anger, as he witnesses the mercy and forgiveness descending upon the believers. During this month, Allah ﷻ forgives countless people and commands His angels to dedicate their worship and supplications for the nation of Muhammad ﷺ.

Rasulullah ﷺ said, “On the first night of Ramadan, all devils and rebellious jinn are chained so they cannot disturb the fasting believers. The gates of Hell are closed, and the eight gates of Paradise are opened. Every night, Allah ﷻ calls out three times: ‘Whoever asks of Me, I will grant him. Whoever repents, I will accept his repentance. Whoever seeks forgiveness, I will forgive him and save him from the Fire.’”

It is related from Sayyidina ʿUmarر that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “When one from my nation awakens during a night of Ramadan and turns on his bed, the two angels at his side say, ‘Rise, O servant of Allah ﷻ, for Allah wishes to grant you mercy and forgiveness.’ If he rises, his bed praises him and prays that Allah grant him a resting place in Paradise.

When he dresses, his clothing praises him and prays that Allah ﷻ clothe him in garments of Paradise. When he puts on his shoes, they pray that Allah make his steps firm upon the Bridge of Sirat. When he takes water to perform ablution, the water prays that Allah purify him from all sins.

When he prays two rakaʿats, his home prays that his grave be widened and filled with mercy. When he makes supplication, Allah ﷻ gazes upon him with compassion and says, ‘O My servant, you ask and I answer, you seek forgiveness and I grant pardon.’”

Allah Almighty also told Prophet Musa (AS), “I have granted two lights to the nation of Muhammad ﷺ to remove two darknesses.” Musa (AS) asked, “What are these two lights?”

Allah ﷻ replied, “The light of Ramadan and the light of the Qur’an.”

Musa (AS) then asked, “And what are the two darknesses?”

Allah ﷻ replied, “The darkness of the grave and the darkness of the Day of Judgment. Whoever recites the Qur’an will have light in his grave, and whoever fasts Ramadan will have light on the Day of Judgment.”

May Allah ﷻ grant us the hidden rewards of fasting, illuminate our hearts with the light of Ramadan and the Qur’an, and include us among those who are welcomed into His mercy and eternal pleasure.

• Hajja Amina Adil Sultanق

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