"There is no good deed that the son of Adam does, but between ten and seven hundred Hasanahs will be recorded for him. Allah, the mighty and sublime, said: 'Except fasing, for it is for me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for my sake. Fasting is a shield, and the fasting person has two moments of joy. One when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. And the smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk." '
The Book of Fasting - Sunan an-Nasa'i 2215
This sacred hadith qudsi, narrated in Sunan an-Nasa'i, reveals the exceptional status of fasting among all acts of worship. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveys the direct words of Allah Almighty, establishing fasting as a unique spiritual practice with divine recompense beyond ordinary calculation.
Divine Ownership and Reward
"Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it" signifies that while other deeds may involve showing off or worldly recognition, fasting remains purely between the servant and Allah. Since its essence is abstention rather than visible action, it cannot be tainted by hypocrisy. Allah Himself becomes the guarantor of its reward, which transcends the limited scales of human deeds.
The abandonment of desires and food "for My sake" transforms mundane abstinence into profound worship. This intentional orientation toward the Divine elevates physical deprivation into spiritual nourishment, making every moment of hunger an act of devotion.
Fasting as Spiritual Protection
"Fasting is a shield" indicates its dual protective function: it guards against sinful desires in this world and becomes a barrier against the Hellfire in the Hereafter. Just as a physical shield protects the warrior, the fast protects the believer's spiritual integrity by weakening the base self (nafs) and strengthening resolve against temptation.
The Two Joys of the Fasting Person
The first joy at iftar represents the lawful pleasure in Allah's provisions after obedient restraint. The second, greater joy occurs when the believer stands before Allah to receive the unfathomable reward promised specifically for fasting. This eternal joy far surpasses any worldly pleasure.
The Fragrance of Fasting
The hadith's remarkable conclusion about the fasting person's breath being "better than musk" demonstrates how Allah transforms what humans might consider unpleasant into something beloved. This symbolizes how sincere worship transmutes worldly hardships into spiritual beauties in the Divine estimation.