ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Self Building Seventh Means, Fast (Sawm) Fasting is one of the greatest worship which exerts tremendous influence in one's efforts for self-perfection, self purification, and self building. There are many traditions which describe the special distinction assigned to fasting. Following are few examples: The Holy Prophet (S) has said: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: الصوم جنة من النار.

“The Fasting is a shield for protection against Hell's fire.” [^1] Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: عن ابى عبدالله عليه السلم قال: ان الله تعالى يقول: الصوم لى وانا اجزى عليه. “God-Almighty said: ' Fasting is for Me and I bestow its reward upon the fast observer.”' [^2] And said: قال ابو عبدالله عليه السلام: ان الصائم منكم ليرتع فى رياض الجنة وتدعو له لا ملائكة حتى يفطر.

“The fast observer moves an enjoys inside the Garden of Paradise, and angels pray for him until the fast breaking time.” [^3] The Holy Prophet (S) has said: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: من صام يوما تطوعا ابتغا ثواب الله وجيب له المغفرة. “Whoever observes one recommended fast for the sake of reward, forgiveness for him becomes compulsory.” [^4] Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: عن ابى عبدالله عليه السلم قال: نوم الصائم عبادة وصمته تسبيح وعلمه متقبل ودعائه مستجاب.

“The sleep of a fast observer is regarded as worship; his silence is considered as praise, his deeds are accepted and his supplications are granted.” [^5] The Holy Prophet (S) has said: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: قال الله عز وجل: كل أعمال ابن آدم بـعشرة أضعافها إلى سبعمائة ضعف إلا الصبر، فإنه لى وأنا أجزى به, فثواب الصبر مخزون في علم الله والصبر هو الصوم.

“God-Almighty said: 'For all righteous deeds of servants there is a reward from ten times to seven hundred time, but since, fasting is specially reserved for me -I will bestow its reward. Therefore. only God-Almighty knows the reward of fasting.” [^6] Fasting. is a special worship which is a combination of two parts i.e. negation and confrontation.

The first part consists of self-Restraint and renunciation of drinking, eating, and sexual pleasures, which are legitimate pleasures, as well as not to tell a lie about God-Almighty and Holy Prophet (S) and some other affairs which have been described in details in Jurisprudential books. The second part consists of devotion, intention, and desire to seek God's Nearness, which in reality are tantamount to soul of this worship.