MQI Supreme Council Chairman, Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din, delivered his keynote address at Friday congregation on the subject of ‘fasting’ on the 22nd of Ramazan at the Itikaf City.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that fasting is that form of worship whose reward Allah Almighty has promised Himself. He said that fasting imparts a lesson of patience, patience that endows on man spiritual and moral excellence. He said that rewards of worship done during the sacred moments in the holy month of Ramazan increase manifold, so much so that blessings bestowed on the believers cannot be counted.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that if there is sincerity in fasting and worship performed by the believer, Allah Almighty grants His nearness to those who fast. This is a status which makes man worthy of envy by the angels. He said that on the Day of Judgment, Allah Almighty will hold accountability of people. After the accountability when the man will be left with nothing except fasting, Allah Almighty will grant him a place in paradise as a reward for his fasts. He said that likewise, there will be people about whom the angels will say to Allah Almighty: O Lord, this is the pious man who would keep fast in a company of other pious people. He would attend Itikaf and would keep on looking at them. At this, Allah Almighty will bless such a person with special rewards.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that bearing the hardship of heat, thirst and hunger during the holy month of Ramazan is the Sunna of the Holy Prophet (SAW). He said that we should, therefore, face such hardships by considering it the Sunna of the Holy Prophet (SAW), adding that only then this fast will acquire a unique status.

Talking about various categories of fasting, Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that there is a fast which common people keep; then there is a fast kept by lovers and then there is a fast, which is kept by the saints. Allah Almighty will say to His friends, “Whenever I saw you I saw you keeping fast. I saw your lips which were dry with thirst. I saw your bodies shrinking due to hunger and thirst. Come close to Me on the Day of Judgment. Today all of the blessings are present for you. Eat out of these blessings. ‘Hurs’ of Paradise will come to you with bowls full of honey and milk and present them to you.’ Hurs will say to them, ‘You remained steadfast in hunger and thirst of fasting in the world. We remember that sight when Allah Almighty was remembering you in the heaven. So you were granted forgiveness at that time and we were given to you in Nikah at that time.’