A Shield from Sins and a Pleasure for Believers
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 1904
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,
“Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting, which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield or protection from the Fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relations with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person: one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.”
Deeper Meaning & Explanation:
This hadith highlights the uniqueness of fasting, setting it apart from other acts of worship. While all other deeds benefit both individuals and society, fasting is exclusively for Allah because it involves complete self-restraint from basic human desires—eating, drinking, and intimacy—solely for His sake.
1️⃣ Fasting as a Shield from Sins & Hellfire
- The Prophet (ﷺ) describes fasting as a “shield,” meaning it protects a believer from sinful behavior and the Hellfire.
- It teaches self-control, reducing impulsive actions and negative habits.
📖Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183
“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may attain Taqwa (God-consciousness).”
Fasting builds Taqwa (awareness of Allah), making it easier to resist sins.
2️⃣ Why Does Allah Want Us to Feel Hunger?
Allah does not need our hunger—we need fasting to discipline our desires. Hunger and thirst remind us:
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That we are dependent on Allah’s provision.
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Of the suffering of the poor, increasing our empathy.
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That we should control our desires, not be slaves to them.
📖Surah Al-Insan 76:8-9
“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire neither reward nor thanks from you.'”
If hunger was meaningless, Allah would not command feeding the poor.
3️⃣ Fasting Helps Avoid 18+ Sins & Lowers Desires
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Overeating and indulgence lower self-control, making it easier to fall into sinful habits.
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Fasting reduces urges, especially towards pornography and immoral thoughts.
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Many who struggle with addictions find fasting helps them overcome temptation.
📖Surah An-Nur 24:30
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.”
Fasting aligns with this command, making it easier to control one’s eyes and thoughts.
4️⃣ One Month of Fasting Rewires a Person’s Habits
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Studies show Habit Formation range varies from 18 days to 254 days, depending on the habit and the individual.
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Fasting for a month trains self-discipline, helping maintain righteousness even after Ramadan.
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A person learns to pray regularly, give charity, and avoid sins.
📖Surah Al-Ankabut 29:69
“And those who strive for Us—We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.”
By striving in Ramadan, Allah guides a person even beyond it.
5️⃣ What If a Person Goes Back to Sin After Ramadan?
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Even if someone makes mistakes after Ramadan, they still spent an entire month avoiding bad habits!
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This shows they can control their desires, proving that their sins are choices, not addictions.
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Allah does not expect perfection, but effort.
📖Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'”
One month of fasting proves that a person can fight their sins, even if they slip afterward, Fasting is not just about hunger—it is a path to discipline, self-purification, and long-term righteousness. Even if someone fails after Ramadan, they have already won by proving they can control their desires when they choose to.
Benefits of Fasting
Fasting Research Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine
The 2016 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Japan’s Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi for his discoveries of the underlying mechanisms of a physiological process called autophagy. Autophagy is a natural process by which the body degrades and recycles damaged cells, proteins and toxins. Autophagy comes from two Greek words, auto meaning “self” and phagy meaning “to eat.” This is the body’s way of cleaning house. It happens during starvation, calorie restriction, and fasting. If the body fails to engage in autophagy, damaged cells and structures can accumulate dangerously. Autophagy is one method that the body uses to naturally neutralize cancer cells and degrade cells infected by harmful bacteria and viruses… Today, we are learning that intermittent fasting can deliver numerous health benefits. Overeating can cause significant harm, including increased risks of cardiovascular, weight, blood sugar, brain, mood and other health concerns. Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, has been linked to numerous health benefits, including:
1. Decreased diabetes risk
2. Decreased cardiovascular risk
3. Improved longevity
4. Protection against cancer
5. Reduced risk of neurological concerns
6. Decreased inflammation
7. Balanced lipid levels
8. Reduced blood pressure
9. Reduced oxidative stress
10. Balanced weight
Reference: LifeSpa, Fasting Research Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine. Is it Right for You?, John Douillard, 2018