"I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Allah, the mighty and sublime, said: Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for me and I shall reward for it. By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhmmad, the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk." '
The Book of Fasting - Sunan an-Nasa'i 2218
This sacred hadith qudsi, transmitted through the noble chain of Sunan an-Nasa'i, reveals the unique spiritual status of fasting in Islam. The divine declaration "Fasting is for Me" signifies that unlike other acts of worship, fasting is a purely hidden devotion between the servant and the Lord, free from ostentation.
Divine Ownership of Fasting
Allah Almighty distinguishes fasting from all other acts of worship by claiming it exclusively for Himself. While charity, prayer, and pilgrimage may contain elements of human recognition, fasting remains purely between the servant and the Creator, making it the most sincere form of worship.
Scholars explain that Allah's statement "I shall reward for it" indicates an unparalleled divine recompense beyond measure, as the reward comes directly from the Lord of the Worlds without intermediary calculation.
The Spiritual Fragrance
The Prophet's solemn oath emphasizes the extraordinary value Allah places upon the physical effects of fasting. The unpleasant breath resulting from hunger and thirst is transformed in divine estimation to surpass even the finest earthly perfume.
This metaphorical comparison teaches that what humans might consider undesirable in worldly terms becomes precious in spiritual reality, demonstrating Allah's complete appreciation of the fasting person's sacrifice.
Practical Implications
This hadith encourages believers to perfect their fasting by maintaining purity of intention, avoiding any show or mention of their fast, and embracing the physical discomfort as a means of drawing closer to the Divine.
The teaching reminds us that true worship transcends physical appearances and reaches the essence of sincerity that connects the human soul directly with its Creator.