Fasting in the heat

FASTING IN THE HEAT

Ibn Rajab rahimahullah commented on the virtues of fasting in the heat in ‘Lata’if al-Ma’arif’ (p. 272-273):

“…And from the acts of worship whose reward is multiplied during the heat is fasting, and this is because of the thirst that one experiences in the mid-day heat.

This is why Mu’adh bin Jabal radiyallahu anhu expressed regret on his deathbed that he would no longer experience this mid-day thirst, as did other early Muslims.

And it was related that Abu Bakr radiyallahu anhu would fast in the summer and not fast in the winter.

Umar radiyallahu anhu advised his son ‘Abdullah on his deathbed: “Try to obtain the characteristics of faith,” and the first one he mentioned was fasting in the intense summer heat.

And al-Qasim bin Muhammad said that ‘A’ishah radiyallahu anha would fast in the intense heat, and he was asked: “What drove her to do this?” He replied: “She would take advantage of the days before death.”

And some of the righteous women would choose the hottest days and fast them, saying: “If the price is low, everyone will buy,” meaning that she wanted to do those actions that only a few were capable of due to how hard it was to do them, and this is indicative of the high aspirations these women had.

And Abu Musa al-Ash’ari radiyallahu anhu was on a boat, and he heard someone calling out: “O passengers, stand up!” And he said this three times. So, Abu Musa radiyallahu anhu told him: “How can we stand up? Don’t you see where we are? How can we stand up?” So, the caller said: “Let me tell you of a rule that Allah made upon Himself: whoever makes himself thirsty for Allah’s sake on a hot day has the right upon Allah to have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection.” So, Abu Musa radiyallahu anhu would search out the days that were so hot that one would feel he was being cooked, and he would fast those days.

Subhan’Allah!