Answer
Short Answer: Fasting is not intended as hardship. Make lots of du’aa as supplication is the essence of worship. Remember Allah often as this is a great way to strengthen your connection with Allah. Don’t be overwhelmed. Allah appreciates every effort that you do for His sake and He will reward you for it. No difficulty or hardship will go unnoticed or unrewarded by Allah. So have immense faith in Him.
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Salam (Peace),
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
In the verse where Allah mentioned the month of Ramadan, He says:
{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.} (Quran 2:185) [emphasis added]
1- Fasting is not intended as hardship
Remember in the verse above, Allah Almighty says, {Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.}
So, please remember this always: Allah intends for you ease!
The close connection with Allah Almighty throughout this month and through His words is meant to ease the burdens of our hearts and our souls.
Allah doesn’t burden a soul with more than it can handle.
Whatever we’re meant to do in Ramadan is meant to be a means of relief for us, to remind us of the vastness of Allah’s Mercy, the vastness of His Rewards and His Generosity, and to take the burden of this temporary material world off of our shoulders a little bit.
2- Make dua (supplication)
Make lots of dua.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Supplication is the essence of worship (Tirmidhi).
Also He said:
Verily supplication is worship.
So, make dua (supplication) all day, this is available for you 24/7 and it is an act that is rewarded greatly and it increases you in connection with Allah.
Allah Almighty Himself says in the Quran
{And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.} (Quran 40:60)
Also, the dua of the person who is fasting is answered.
So make use of this opportunity.
3- Make dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
You can make lots of dhikr. That’s key to spirituality and connection with Allah.
Remembering Allah, uttering His Names, glorifying Him, thanking Him, remembering Him are all great ways of worship and means for enormous reward and connection with Allah (SWT).
The Prophet said:
‘Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?’ They said: ‘Of course.’ He said, ‘The remembrance of Allah [Most High].’ [Then] Mu’adh bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him] said: ‘There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.’ (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
And The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah’s) mercy envelops them, tranquility descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him.” (Muslim)
Also The Messenger of Allah said:
Allah the Exalted says: ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels). (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
4- Do not be overwhelmed
Among Allah’s Beautiful Names is As-Shakoor (The Most Appreciative).
So Allah appreciates every effort that you do for His sake and He will reward you for it.
No difficulty or hardship will go unnoticed or unrewarded by Allah. So have immense faith in Him.
You struggling (putting your best effort) is appreciated by Allah and is heavy on your scale.
Don’t look at those who have finished reciting the whole Quran three times or are staying up praying for three hours and then feel you’re not accomplishing enough or that you’re slacking behind.
Your struggle is appreciated, and perhaps you doing your absolute best to recite one page of the Quran properly while it’s difficult for you is heavier on the scale than someone reciting the whole Quran casually and/or mindlessly.
Allah knows you and Allah sees you and He knows what’s going on in your heart and He is listening to the whispers in your head.
He is so close, even closer than you would think.
He is not a faraway deity that is hard to please. Rather Allah is Near, Appreciative, and Responsive.
He will respond to you in the most beautiful ways and open doors for you.
So, fall in love with Allah, with His Words in the Quran and with this blessed month of immense rewards and opportunities.
That’s all that is required from you and you can do it.
May Allah bless you all, our brothers and sisters in every corner of this planet, and may He accept from you and elevate your status and grant you to the highest place in Paradise!
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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