Sharing this useful post from Sheikh Shuayb Wani of Dar al Ilm:
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Allah said), 'Every good deed of Adam's son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.' Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk." [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Imam al-Khatib al-Shirbini (d. 977) in his Sharh on Minhaj says that Ulama' have more than 50 opinions about the meaning of the Istithna: "except fasting; it is for Me". According to Imam al-Subki, the best opinion is the qawl of Imam Sufyan ibn Uyaynah: "The foes of a person will take the reward from all of his deeds except fasting".
Imam al-Zabidi (d. 1205) has beautifully summarized the opinions of 'Ulama in his Sharh (explanation) on Ihya' in 10 Aqwal (sayings):
1. There is no share of the Nafs in fasting.
2. The reward of fasting exceeds all limits and count.
3. Imitating the attribute of Allah (swt): free of need from eating and drinking.
4. No one except Allah (swt) was worshiped by the 'ibadah of fasting. The disbelievers did not worship their false gods with fasting ever.
5. The reward of all deeds will be compromised for the rights of human beings except fasting. It will remain safe.
6. Imitating the angelic qualities as they do not eat, drink and fulfill their desires.
7. Attribution of tashrif/respect like: "the house of Allah".
8. Attribution of takhsis/nearness like: "the she-camel of Allah".
9. There is no Riya' in fasting. It is only known to Allah (swt).
10. Attribution of himayah/protection.
[And Allah (swt) knows best]
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