The 'Īd Prayers He...

The 'Īd Prayers He, peace be on him, said: "If a sayer says: 'Why has the takkbir therein ('Īd prayers) been made more than that in the prayers other than it?' "It is said: 'Because takkbir is for Allah and is glorification (for Him) for guiding (them) and (giving them) well-being, just as Allah, the Great and Almighty, has said: That you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks .

[1] '" The Imām, peace be on him, has expressed the reason for making the takkbir in the 'Īd prayer more than that in the other prayers, and that is because this excellent day is great with Allah, the Most High. Fasting The Imām, peace be on him, talked about the reason for legislating fasting, and about some reasons for the legislation concerning the blessed month of Ramadān.

He, peace be on him, said: "If a sayer says: 'Why have they been ordered to fast?' "It is said: 'That they may come to know about the pain of hunger and thirst, so they conclude the poverty in the hereafter, and that the fasting person may be lowly, abased, miserable, rewarded, [1] Qur'ān, 2, 185.

relying (on Allah), and patient toward that which befall him of hunger and thirst, so he is worthy of reward, in addition to refraining from desires, and this may be a preacher for them in the immediate, a trainer for them against what He has entrusted to them, and a guide for them to the deferred, and that they may know the severity of that (hunger and thirst) against the people of poverty and misery in the world, so they give to them what Allah has apportioned as a religious duty in their properties.'" The Imām has mentioned the profits which result from fasting of which is showing sympathy for the poor, for when the fasting person becomes hungry, he feels the pain of hunger, and this urges him to show affection toward the poor and the needy.

Among the reasons for fasting is equality between the rich and the poor in this religious duty. Yet another reason for it is that it strengthens man's will, and that is through his refraining from eating and drinking. Jihārdat, a German author, has written a book on building and strengthening will through fasting.

He believes that fasting is the effective means for the authority of the soul over the body, and that man lives holding the reins of his own soul and is not a captive to his material inclinations. These are some reasons of fasting.