LESSON 3: Acquiring patience and strong will

Allah has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Qur’an and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways in His Book. So when one fasts, and gives up one’s food and drink, and one’s marital sexual relations for those hours, one learns restraint and patience. This Ummah needs man and women that are strong willed, who can stand upon the Sunnah and the Book of Allah and not waver in front of the enemies of Allah. We do not need emotional people, who just raise slogans and shout, but when the time comes to stand upon something firm, they cannot do so, they waver.

LESSON 1: Gaining Taqwa

Allah legislated fasting for gaining taqwa, “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (meaning of SoraatulBaqarah (2):183) Taqwa in this case means to make a shield between oneself and Allah’s anger and Hellfire. So we should ask ourselves, when we break our fasts, ‘Has this fasting day made us fear Allah more? Has it resulted that we want to protect ourselves from the hellfire or not?

15. Learning the beneficial knowledge: One should learn that knowledge that will benefit him in the Hereafter and act by it in order to be a good example for others. The authentic knowledge is the one that is based on Quran and Sunnah.

13. Speaking the truth and not fearing punishment of anyone: The prophet peace be upon him said, “The leader of the martyrs is Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib and a person who faces an unjust ruler and advises him to do good and he is killed because of his speech” (Sahih Al-Jami)

12. Remembering Allah at all times: The prophet peace be upon him stated that Allah said, “I am as My slave thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself. I make mention of him to Myself and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it.” (Al-Bukhari).

11. Jihad in the way of Allah: A hadith of the Prophet peace be upon him says, “Being on guard in the way of Allah for one month is better than perpetual fasting for a year. Whoever dies while guarding in the way of Allah will be safe from the great frightening. And he will be provided his provisions, and smell the scent from paradise, and receive the reward of the one who guards until Allah resurrects him” (Sahih Al-Jami)