Perfecting the fast
Fasting is about far more than just avoiding those things that invalidate the fast. The full reward of fasting is obtained only by the person trying to be a model Muslim and is only achieved when accompanied by good deeds and the avoidance of sins. Committing sins is bad ordinarily and is something that each Muslim needs to strive to avoid at all times of the year. For the fasting person, committing sin is even worse and it also detracts from the reward of the fast and makes the fast incomplete.
Examples of sins that should be avoided are gossiping, backbiting, slandering, getting angry and arguing, the wanton display of beauty (i.e. a woman not wearing hijab and not covering herself modestly), lying, cheating and listening to music, to name a few.
"Whoever does not give up false speech and acting in accordance with it, and ignorant conduct, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink."
(Hadith - Bukhari)
Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Fasting does not just mean giving up food and drink, rather fasting also means giving up idle and obscene talk. If someone wants to fight him or insults him, let him say, 'I am fasting' twice"(Hadith - Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibaan and al-Haakim)
Such behaviour is reinforced by some of the pious Muslims at the time of the Prophet (PBUH).
Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah said: "If you fast, then block your ears, eyes and tongue from lies and sin; do not abuse your servants; be tranquil and dignified on the day of your fast; do not let the day when you do not fast and the day when you fast be the same."
When Abu Hurayrah and his companions fasted, they would stay in the mosque and say, "We are keeping our fast pure."
The point is, that fasting is at more than at a physical level, it should be realised in the fasting person's actions, behaviour and interactions with others. The fasting person should be dignified in their behaviour and act in an honourable manner without acting foolishly. Indeed it would be wasting a golden opportunity if one was to carry on as normal on a day on which they were fasting.
By failing to avoid sins, the fast becomes tainted and the reward achieved may be decreased.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The one who fasts may get nothing from his fast but hunger, and the one who prays qiyaam (standing to pray at night) may get nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night."
(Hadith - Ibn Maajah, 1690)
If the fasting person does not
refrain
from sin, it may detract from the reward of fasting so much that no reward
is gained at all.
On the other hand, performing many good deeds whilst fasting adds to the
reward gained. The fasting person is encouraged to give charity, be kind
and helpful, pray extra prayers (including optional prayers before and
after the obligatory prayers, praying at night, praying Taraaweeh
prayers), reading Qur'an, remembering Allah, seeking religious knowledge and so on.
These are the ways in which the Muslim tries to perfect their fast and
indeed improve themselves long term as such actions become easier through
increased faith and become engrained in the person's behaviour as good habits.
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