Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. I want to ask what is the meaning of the two happiness for people who fast; which are the happiness when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord? Hope for an explanation from you. Thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt, wbt.,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Indeed, Allah SWT has promised rewards and honour for those who fast. There are numerous hadiths which mentioned these advantages. Among them is the hadith which states:
لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ ، وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ
"There are two joys for the fasting person: the joy when he breaks his fast, and the joy of when he meets his Lord."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (696)
In the above hadith the Messenger PBUH stated that for a person who fast, he will experience two joys, which are the joy when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord in the hereafter.
Scholars commented on the meaning of this two happiness, saying:
- First, the happiness when he breaks his fast for it is in the nature of humans to be inclined towards their desires to want to eat, drink, jima’ (have intercourse) and others. Thus, when these matters are prohibited for a duration of time, then it is ruled permissible again, surely he will feel happy for he can now enjoy them. Especially, for those who felt restricted because of these prohibitions throughout his fast. (Refer Lathaif al-Ma’arif Fiima Lil Mawasim al-‘Amm Min al-Wazhaif: 215)
- Second, the happiness when he meets his Lord means the rewards that he would receive from him performing the worship of fasting when he meets with Allah SWT in the hereafter. This is in accordance with the statement of Allah SWT:
وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّـهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Surah al-Muzammil (20)
The same is stated in another statement of Allah SWT:
يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا
“The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it],”
Surah Ali Imran (30)
Thus, when a person who had fasted see the rewards he is getting from Allah SWT, he would be elated with his fast that he had performed to the best of his abilities. (Refer Lathaif al-Ma’arif Fiima Lil Mawasim al-‘Amm Min al-Wazhaif: 216-217)
Conclusion
According to the above discussions, we would like to state the meaning of both happiness is happiness in this world and the hereafter. In this world, a person who fasts will be happy when he is able to do what was prohibited when he was fasting such as eating and drinking. While the same in the hereafter where he will be joyful when he attains the great rewards Allah SWT has stored for him, hence, he would be happy reaping the rewards of his worship. Wallahua’lam.
May Allah SWT give us all the correct understanding in His religion as well as bless us with taufiq and hidayah so that we will be able to continue worshipping Him sincerely. Amin.