/ Allah said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except for fasting, as it is, indeed, for Me, and I give reward for it

Allah said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except for fasting, as it is, indeed, for Me, and I give reward for it

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except for fasting, as it is, indeed, for Me, and I give reward for it. Fasting is a shield. When it is the day when any of you is fasting, let him not engage in obscenity, and let him not speak in a loud voice. If anyone insults him or fights with him, let him say: Verily, I am a fasting person. By the One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, the smell of the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. The fasting person will rejoice twice: when he breaks his fast, he rejoices, and when he meets his Lord, he rejoices at his fast."
Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty says in the Qudsi Hadīth: Every righteous deed offered by the son of Adam is multiplied by ten up to seven hundred times, except for fasting, which is for Me, as it does not involve ostentation, and I give reward for it. So, none but Me knows how great its reward is and how many times it is multiplied. Then he said: (Fasting is a shield), protection, shelter, and a fortified fort against the Fire because it is all about abstaining from desires and committing sins, and the Fire is surrounded with desires. (When it is the day when any of you is fasting, let him not engage in obscenity) at all through sexual intercourse and foreplay or through any obscene speech. (And let him not speak in a loud voice) by quarreling and shouting. (If anyone insults him or fights with him) in Ramadan, let him say: I am a fasting person; perhaps this will deter him. However, if he insists on real fighting, he should expel him with the least violent means first. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore by the One in Whose Hand that his soul is that the foul breath of the fasting person resulting from fasting is more pleasant than the smell of musk in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment and is a means of receiving a greater reward than that of the musk, which is recommended to be used on Fridays and during the Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) sessions. The fasting person will have two occasions to rejoice: when breaking his fast, he rejoices at breaking his fast that eliminates his hunger and thirst; and he rejoices at completing his fast and accomplishing his act of worship, at the alleviation from his act of worship to his Lord, and at the strength it provides him with for his future fasting. (And when he meets his Lord, he rejoices at his fast), i.e., at its recompense and reward.

Hadeeth benefits

  1. The merit of fasting is that it protects the one who observes it from desires in this worldly life and from the punishment of the Fire in the Hereafter.
  2. Abandoning obscene speech and idle talk, enduring people's offense patiently, and responding to their abuse with patience and kindness are among the manners of fasting.
  3. When a fasting person or a worshipper rejoices for completing and finishing his act of worship, this does not diminish his reward in the Hereafter.
  4. Ultimate happiness is achieved by meeting Allah Almighty when the patient and those who used to observe fast will be given their reward without measure.
  5. Informing people of an act of obedience, in case of necessity and benefit, is not deemed ostentation when one says: "I am fasting."
  6. The person whose fasting is perfect is he whose limbs abstain from sins, whose tongue abstains from lying, obscene speech, and words of falsehood, and whose stomach abstains from food and drink.
  7. Emphasis on the prohibition of noise, quarreling, and shouting during the fast, as the non-fasting person is also prohibited from such things.
  8. This Hadīth is part of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) narrates from his Lord, and it is called Qudsi or Divine Hadīth. Its wording and meaning are from Allah, yet it does not have the unique characteristics of the Qur'an, including reciting it as a form of worship, getting purified for it, presenting it as a challenge, its miraculousness, etc.