Friday Sermon: Moral rules a key part of fasting

Fasting has a high status in Islam, and Allah has made a gate to paradise for those who fast, worshippers will hear on Friday.

“The benefits of fasting are great, and its status is high, and Allah has raised the status of those who fast and allocated a gate to paradise for them that no one else enters from except them,” Friday’s sermon says.

Allah has not specified the rewards one receives for fasting, He promised them it will be great, as a hadith by the Prophet Mohammed says: “Allah said ‘Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me’.”

Another hadith promises one’s sins be erased if he were to fast in Ramadan with sincere faith and hope for reward.

Nevertheless, Muslims should be careful to preserve the moral rules and manners for fasting, or else it will be useless in terms of rewards and benefits.

“Whoever does not give up false speech and behaviour, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink,” another hadith says.

“If one of you starts his day fasting, let him not engage in any obscene or ignorant speech, and if someone insults him or argues with him, let him say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting’.”

The sermon concludes by recommending the increase of Quran recitation, dua’a and praising of Allah during the holy month to make the best out of its high rewards.