The Obligation of Fasting
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We say: The month of Ramadan contains three prescribed acts of worship: the first is fasting, which is the greatest of them,The second: standing in night prayer,And the third is: and i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque).
As for fasting, it is obligatory by the consensus of the Muslims; because it is one of the pillars of Islam, which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described by saying: “Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting Ramadan, and making the pilgrimage to the House” These five, as it may appear to some people, are six, but they are five; because the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is one; because they are the two pillars of every act of worship and the condition of every act of worship, so there is no valid act of worship except with sincerity to Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Sincerity to Allah is included in the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and following the Messenger is included in the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
As for fasting, it is obligatory by the consensus of the Muslims; because it is one of the pillars of Islam, which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described by saying: “Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting Ramadan, and making the pilgrimage to the House” These five, as it may appear to some people, are six, but they are five; because the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is one; because they are the two pillars of every act of worship and the condition of every act of worship, so there is no valid act of worship except with sincerity to Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Sincerity to Allah is included in the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and following the Messenger is included in the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.