Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : And among the virtues of this noble month is that whoever fasts it out of faith and seeking reward, Allah will forgive him his previous sins. Whoever fasts it out of faith and seeking reward, Allah will forgive him his previous sins. Does this refer to all previous sins, or is it limited to minor sins? In other words, does it mean his sins are forgiven, both major and minor, or only the minor ones? Let us look. If we look at the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2194Sahih (Darussalam), we find that, yes, his previous sins are forgiven. Is this general or specific? It is general; everything that preceded, whether minor or major sins, is forgiven. Rest assured. If we look at this hadith, we say that it is forgiven for the person who fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, all that preceded of sin, all that preceded, because he said Sunan an-Nasa'i 2194Sahih (Darussalam). However, we must know that the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) qualify one another and specify one another. Has this generality been specified? Yes, it has been specified. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) Mishkat al-Masabih 564. So the hadith is qualified. But how great is the blessing for a person that all his previous sins, the minor ones, are forgiven? This is a great blessing. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made it a condition that he fast it with what? Brother, whoever fasts Ramadan, his previous sins are forgiven, but with what condition?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, that it be out of faith and seeking reward. Yes, may Allah bless you. What does "out of faith" mean? It means faith in Allah, faith that Allah has made it obligatory, and faith in the obligation of obeying Allah and His Messenger, and seeking reward for the recompense. A person may perform a righteous deed believing in it and its obligation, but he may neglect seeking the reward. This is a great deficiency. Listen, my brother. Now you are praying with faith in Allah, with faith in the obligation of prayer, and with obedience to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). But do you intend the reward attached to these prayers when you pray? Most people are heedless; that is, they do not intend to seek the reward of this deed from Allah. This is a matter that a person must be alert to: to seek this deed from Allah, meaning that he hopes for Allah's reward for it, so that he is eager for the deed and expecting its reward. So, among the characteristics of the month of Ramadan is that whoever fasts it out of faith and seeking reward, what happens? His previous sins are forgiven.
his previous sins
ما تقدم من ذنبهhis previous sins
ما تقدم من ذنبهThe five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.
الصلوات الخمس والجمعة إلى الجمعة ورمضان إلى رمضان مكفرات لما بينهن إذا اجتنبت الكبائرThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, that it be out of faith and seeking reward. Yes, may Allah bless you. What does "out of faith" mean? It means faith in Allah, faith that Allah has made it obligatory, and faith in the obligation of obeying Allah and His Messenger, and seeking reward for the recompense. A person may perform a righteous deed believing in it and its obligation, but he may neglect seeking the reward. This is a great deficiency. Listen, my brother. Now you are praying with faith in Allah, with faith in the obligation of prayer, and with obedience to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). But do you intend the reward attached to these prayers when you pray? Most people are heedless; that is, they do not intend to seek the reward of this deed from Allah. This is a matter that a person must be alert to: to seek this deed from Allah, meaning that he hopes for Allah's reward for it, so that he is eager for the deed and expecting its reward. So, among the characteristics of the month of Ramadan is that whoever fasts it out of faith and seeking reward, what happens? His previous sins are forgiven.