The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 112
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 112 food and drink from dawn till dusk, and during these hours, intimate relations between husband and wife would also be abstained from. Furthermore, the days of fasting would particularly be spent in the remembrance of Allāh, recitation of the Holy Qur’ān, and in charity and alms. During the nights of fasting, special arrangement for the Tahajjud Prayer would be made, etc. 1 As such, it is written with regards to the Holy Prophet sa that his Ramaḍān was a complete embodiment of worship. Although the entire life of the Holy Prophet sa was nothing except worship, but during fasting, the Holy Prophet sa would particularly spend the better part of his time in voluntary services and in the remembrance of Allāh. He would often remain awake during the nights, and during Ramaḍān the Holy Prophet sa would offer charity and alms to such an extent that the Companions likened him to a fast wind which knew no stopping. 2 Moreover, in order to keep the spirit of fasting alive, the Holy Prophet sa would always admonish the Companions not to think that by the mere abstinence of food and drink as a tradition, they would be counted among those who had fasted; rather, that they should bear in mind the actual spirit of fasting, so that a sense of inner purity, restraint of desires and a faculty of sacrifice and service of the needy may be fostered. Furthermore, he would state that, “Most unfortunate is he who is afforded an opportunity to fast in Ramaḍān and does not thereby have his previous sins forgiven. ” The Holy Prophet sa would also encourage fasting as a voluntary service, but it was a Sunnat of the Holy Prophet sa to order a middle course in every matter. As such, the Holy Prophet sa would forbid people from fasting continuously and would say that: “Allāh has commanded that a person owes rights even to his own soul, he owes rights to his wife and children, he owes rights to his friends and neighbours, 1 * Al-Baqarah (2:184-188) * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Man Ṣāma Ramaḍāna Īmānan Waḥtisāban Wa Niyyatan, Ḥadīth No. 1901 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Ajwadi Ma Kānan-Nabiyyu sa Yakūnu Fī Ramaḍān , Ḥadīth No. 1902 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Man Lam Yada‘ Qaulaz-Zūri. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 1903 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Hal Yaqūlu Innī Ṣā’imun Idhā Shutima?, Ḥadīth No. 1904 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Qaulin-Nabiyyi sa. . . . . Liman Ẓullila ‘Alaihi Washtaddal- Ḥarru. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 1946 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Matā Yaḥillu Fiṭruṣ-Ṣā’im, Ḥadīth No. 1954 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Man Aqsama ‘Alā Akhīhi Li-Yufṭira Fit-Taṭawwu‘. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 1968 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābuṣ-Ṣaum, Bābu Ajwadi Ma Kānan-Nabiyyu sa Yakūnu Fī Ramaḍān , Ḥadīth No. 1902