The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk." (See Hadith No. 128, Vol. 3).
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7492
Divine Attribution of Fasting
This sacred hadith qudsi elevates fasting above all other acts of worship through Allah's exclusive attribution: "The Fast is for Me." Unlike prayer, charity, or pilgrimage which may involve ostentation, fasting is purely between the servant and his Lord, hidden from creation's sight. This divine ownership signifies fasting's unique status in divine acceptance.
Divine Reward Beyond Measure
"I will give the reward for it" indicates Allah's boundless generosity without intermediaries. While other deeds have specified rewards, fasting's recompense transcends quantification, being directly from the Divine Treasury. The abandonment of lawful desires—food, drink, and marital relations—for Allah's pleasure transforms mundane abstinence into transcendent worship.
Spiritual Protection and Dual Delights
Fasting serves as a "screen from Hell" by extinguishing sinful desires and strengthening spiritual resolve. The "two pleasures" manifest temporally and eternally: the legitimate joy of breaking fast reflects divine permission, while the ultimate delight awaits in the Hereafter through Allah's vision—the supreme reward for the patient believer.
Transformation of Physical States
The hadith's conclusion regarding the fasting person's breath demonstrates how Allah transforms what people deem unpleasant into something beloved to Him. This metaphysical reality teaches that worldly standards differ from divine valuation, where physical discomfort endured for Allah's sake becomes more fragrant than the most prized earthly perfume.