HOW TO SEEK LIFETIME REWARDS AND INCREASED SPIRITUALITY THROUGH FASTING BY IMAM MASHOOD DAGBO
Fasting’, according to Chief Imam, Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Central Mosque, Okesuna, Ilorin, Kwara State to be; abstinence from drinking eating, sexual pleasure, bad indulgence of our parts of the body and other things that can go in to our stomach from sunrise to sunset wth intention of worshiping Allah. It is an important spiritual journey in Islam that only Allah knows who truly fasts, it is the reason why Allah rewards fasting by Himself out of all other kinds of worship.
To this, the Chief Imam, quoted Qur’an 3 verse 183 where Allah says: ”O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so you may attain piety”‘
Indeed, the verse was mainly for fasting in the month of Ramadhan that it had been enjoined on generations before the generation of the prophet Muhammad (SAW). However, the purpose of all types of fasting is Islam including Ramadhan as said in the verse remains the same to attain spirituality. As Ramadhan remains compulsory fasting, there are other fastings that were also recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). So, emphazing other fastings, the Chief Imam quoted the Hadith related by Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him as he reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about fasting on Monday. The Prophet (S.A.W) said,: “That is the day I was born and the day I was sent with revelation; fasting three days of every month and during the month of Ramadhān especially, is like fasting for a lifetime”. It is on this aspect of the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) as related by Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1162 from which the famous Imam Yusuf Mashood Dagbo derived his wisdom for this Friday.
The Hadirh Quoter, Chief Iman Yusuf Mashood Dagbo of Govt. Girls Day Sec. Schl. Okesuna Central Mosque Ilorin, Kwara State; analysed how important this aspect of the life of Rasul (SAW) is to mankind to include encouraging Muslims to fast as recommended and other sunnatic fastings in Islam, aside the compulsory fasting in the month of Ramadhān purposely to gain maximum spirituality from Allah.
Imam Dagbo explained further, that the Hadith recommends fasting on Mondays as the loved days to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who himself fasted and thus, makes it one of the recommended fastings in Islam
Fasting on Mondays as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did and emulated by his companions, Imam Dagbo reminded and enlightened the Muslim Ummah to also know that it was the day he (Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born, and also the day he was sent with revelation of the Al-Qur’an, the most blessed Book that serves as guidance to all creatures of Allah.
Also in this Friday’s wisdom that captured one of the most important aspects of the Prophet’s ways of life, Imam Dagbo who is not only an
Islamic scholar, but also a Marriage
Counselling Specialist said that, it has been
recommended by renown Scholars from the Prophet (SAW) that fasting on Ayyamul-Bīd (white days) on thirteen, fourteen and fifteen of evey lunar month, attracts Lifetime Rewards and Increased Spirituality . These days are called white days because, the moon is always bright and whitish.
The Hadith which established that the fasting in the month of Ramadhān is compulsory upon every sane, healthy, matured and free Muslim, the Imam Dagbo who doubles as the Director Yumad Consults told the congregation that the Hadith reveals the importance of fasting in Islam to mankind and emphasizes its benefits on fasters as a spiritual deed that protects one form injury and evils of creatures, draws one closer to Allah, increases hygiene and health conditions, among others.
The Islamic Scholar; Imam Dagbo brought to the knowledge of members of the congregation, one of the ways to attract Allah’s love and blessings when he said that, the Hadith draws us (Muslim Ummah) to know that in all the deeds (‘Ibaadah) before Allah (S.W.T) it is only fasting He rewards Himself, because He is the Only One Who Knows who truly fasts.
The Hadith applauds fasting in the month Ramadhān as best act to remain sinless from this year to next Ramadhān so far as the person does not commit grave sins like murder, fornication/adultery, false witness and the likes. Imam Dagbo added.
On morality, the religious Cleric said the Hadith teaches us (Muslim Ummah) that the aforementioned fastings are rewarded as if one fasts for his lifetime. Further more, the Imam recommended as the Prophet (SAW) did fast more days during the month of Sha’ban we are in now. It is because it the month as said in his previous wisdom that the Prophet (SAW) our annual deeds would be taken to Allah for accountability in which the Prophet (SAW) preferred to be in fasting so that his report of accounts would be favourable. Therefore, it is recommended to fast during this month of Sha’ban for the said purpose and it would also prepare Muslims for the fasting of Ramadhān, the month that comes after Sha’ban.
PRAYER:
Imam Dagbo rounded up this week’s Friday sermon by praying for Nigeria, Nigerians, and Muslim Ummah as a whole when he said:
O Allah, as we have observed 3rd Jumu’ah in the month of Sha’ban 1446AH, may Your favour, guidance, protection radiate our lives, loved ones, friends, colleagues and families, protect us from evil acts and preserve us to witness this year Ramadhān and accept our Ibaadah in this month of Sha’ban and beyond. Amin.
O Allah! Direct our leaders aright to be kind and lenient with the ruled to take us away from languishing in hardship. O Allah! feed us, protect us from allowing His prohibition and deliver us safely to your care. O Allah, avert us the test of trials, protect us and members of our families from evils of Shaytan and governance, protect Muslims from all worrying lands, especially our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Hamas from the cruelty of Israelites. O Allah; pardon us and bestow paradise on us, save all Muslims from the calamities of our time and restore in the world and Nigeria in particular, back to normal from insecurity, hunger, banditry, kidnapping, war and other social evils rampaging the world. Amin Ya Rabil Alamina
Jumu’ah Mubaarakah
جمعة مباركة
(C) Imam Yusuf Mashood Dagbo, Chief Imam, GGDSS, Okesuna & Director, Yumad Consults, specializes in Marriage Counselling, Event Organization, Public Presentation etc. Contact us@ dagbomashood@gmail.com (08035215264)
(15th Sha’ban 1446AH/
14th February, 2025CE
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