Skip to main content

Part 3: “Fasting repels bad Thoughts” by Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd Al-Salam

By

Part 3:
“Fasting repels Sinful Thoughts”
– Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd Al-Salam
***
“As for fasting repelling sinful thoughts and bad behaviour, this is because if the nafs [s: appetites, lower self; ego-soul] is gratified or satiated, it inclines towards and directs itself to disobedience as well as bad behaviour. If it is made to feel hungry or thirsty, it will long for food and drink. The inclinations and desires of the nafs towards spirituality and to busy it with that is better than its inclination towards and desire for disobedience and lapsing into sin. This is why some of the Salaf preferred fasting over the other acts of worship. One was asked about that and he replied: ‘because I would prefer Allah looking at my nafs while it is in conflict with me over food and hunger than when it is in conflict with me over disobedience to Him [after] having been satiated…”[1]
قدم بعض السلف الصوم على سائر العبادات فسُئل عن ذلك فقال: لأن يطّلع الله على نفسي وهي تنازعني إلى الطعام والشراب أحبّ إليّ من أن يطّلع عليها وهي تنازعني إلى معصيته إذا شبعت
Notes:
  1. Fasting is a preventative measure – it stops a person from committing a certain action.
  2. Fasting is a controlling mechanism, i.e. it restrains a person and restraint is what is required in order to combat one’s desires.
  3. Fasting is one of the most beloved actions to the early paragons of piety in that they would prefer Allah examining them and looking at their nafs while it was in a state of conflict due to hunger and thirst rather than when it is satiated. When one is satiated and satisfied, the inclination and agitation to commit sin weakens as opposed to when the nafsis disturbed and activated.
ولله الحمد
s.z.c.
[1] Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd al-Salam, Maqasid al-Sawm, p.17.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An advice to Muslims working in the financial sector

By
Assalam wa alaikum wa rahmatullah wabarakatahu, Dear Brothers & Sisters, We are saddened to see Muslims today even those who practise many of the rules of Islam are working in jobs which involve haram in the financial sector. They are working in positions which involve usurious (Riba) transactions, insurance, the stock market and the like. Even though many of the clear evidences regarding the severity of the sin of Riba are known, some have justified their job to themselves thinking that they are safe as long as they are not engaged in the actual action of taking or giving Riba. Brothers & Sisters, You should know that the majority of jobs in the financial sector, even the IT jobs in this area are haram (prohibited) as they involve the processing of prohibited contracts. If you work in this sector, do not justify your job to yourself because of the fear of losing your position or having to change your career, fear Allah as he should be feared and consider His law regard
106 comments
Read more

Q&A: Age of separating children in the beds?

By
Question: Please explain the hukm regarding separation of children in their beds. At what age is separation an obligation upon the parents? Also can a parent sleep in the same bed as their child? Answer: 1- With regards to separating children in their beds, it is clear that the separation which is obligatory is when they reach the age of 7 and not since their birth. This is due to the hadith reported by Daarqutni and al-Hakim from the Messenger (saw) who said: When your children reach the age of 7 then separate their beds and when they reach 10 beat them if they do not pray their salah.’ This is also due to what has been narrated by al-Bazzar on the authority of Abi Rafi’ with the following wording: ‘We found in a sheet near the Messenger of Allah (saw) when he died on which the following was written: Separate the beds of the slave boys and girls and brothers and sisters of 7 years of age.’ The two hadiths are texts on the separation of children when they reach the age of 7. As for the
16 comments
Read more

Authenticity of ahadith on tall buildings in Makkah?

By
Question Are these   ḥadith  sound? Are the references provided correct and accurate? When you see the belly of Makkah will be cleft open and through it will be dug out river-like passages (i.e. tunnels) (or water in the road to Makkah), and you see the buildings surpass its mountains, then take care (or beware, or a variant has: then know that the matter is at hand, or then understand that the time of trial (Judgment day) is near at hand). [Narrated by Al-Azraqi in the Book of reports about Makkah – Kitab Akhbaar Makkah, Hadiyth-1725; A specific Hadiyth (in fact several related-Hadiyths) which prophesizes about this Tower. Itha ra’aitun mecca bu’ijat katha’ima, wa ya-tasawa bunyanuha ru’usa jibaliha, faqad athalati as-Sa’atu. When you see Mecca, its mountain with holes (pierced through them), and its buildings reach its mountain tops, then as-Sa’ah (the Hour) has already cast its shadow. [Suyuti] So when you see in Makkah that channels have already been dug (or tunnels built), and you
Post a Comment
Read more