1. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fasting is a protection for the servant from hell fire.”

In another hadeeth, agreed upon, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allaah; Allaah will keep his face away from hell-fire for seventy autumns or (years)”.

If such is the reward for fasting one day, what about fasting the whole month of Ramadhaan, or the voluntary fasts? It is a great benefit indeed.

2. Fasting is a protection against the passions. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “He who can afford to marry should marry, because it will help him refrain from looking at other women, and save him from committing illegal sexual relations; and the who cannot afford to marry is advised to fast, as fasting is like a rein preventing him from illicit pleasure”.

Many young people complain about passion and desire aroused by many factors such as women displaying and exposing themselves in public, dirty magazines in libraries and shops, among other temptations that pursue the young people everywhere. The young person is naturally disposed to have his desire aroused at the slightest cause especially if the religious impediment in the person is weak. To protect these people and us the above prophetic advice is needed .

Practical experience has confirmed the effectiveness of this prophetic medicine, that constitutes a substitute to other medicine and a successful remedy to cure the passions of desire.

3. Fasting is a means to gain Paradise. Al-Nasaa’ee reported that Abu Umaama, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “O Messenger of Allaah, command me to a deed that will benefit me in front of Allaah”. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Observe the fast as it has no equal deed”. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has therefore shown that no deed gets the servant closer to Allaah and takes him away from punishment like fasting.

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has even informed us that there is a gate in Paradise reserved for those who observe fast, as is confirmed in the hadeeth: "There is a gate in paradise called Al-Rayan, and those who observe fast will enter through it on the day of resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said: 'Where are those who used to observe fast?' After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.” We notice that the name of the gate (Al-Rayan means in Arabic 'whose thirst is quenched') corresponds to the characteristic of the person observing fast who suffers thirst as the effect of fasting.