Fasting For Allāh's Sake

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Welcome to Episode Sixteen of the Middle Ground Podcast. I am joined again by my brother Dawud Aleman. We discuss Ramaḍān, fasting (ṣiyām/ṣawm), ṣabr (perseverance), as well as some of our first experiences with fasting when we were new Muslims, and what it’s like to withdrawal from the world for a little while. As usual, we discuss all topics in light of the Qur’ān and statements from the Prophet, ‎ﷺ.

Other references in this episode:

The reference I made to al-Zubaydī’s work on Arabic grammar, Tāj al-’Arūs min Jawāhir al-Qāmūs, in which he highlights the grammatical root of fasting (ṣāḍ+waw+mīm) means, “to grasp; to hold on to” as well as “to stop"; to withhold”:

• Sūrah Maryam v. 26: “I have taken vow of silence to the Most Merciful (al-Raḥmān)”;

• Sūrah al-Zumar v 10: “Only those who persevere for My sake will be given their reward without limit”;

• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim #2685: “Whoever loves to meet Allāh, Allāh loves to meet them”;

• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim #1152: “In Paradise there is a gate which is called al-Rayyān through which only the people who fast would enter on the Day on Resurrection”;