commanding the fasting one to preserve his tongue and limbs

[أبو عبدالملك مروان عبدالمولى]

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قال الإمام النووي رحمه الله في كتابه العظيم رياض الصالحين

Al-Imam An-Nawawi May Allah have mercy on him said in his great book Ryadussalihin

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باب أمر الصائم بحفظ لسانه وجوارحه عن المخالفات والمشاتمة ونحوها

Chapter: commanding the fasting one to preserve his tongue and limbs from the forbidden matters, cursing and similar things

‎ عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - (إذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يصخب، فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله فليقل إني صائم) متفق عليه




Narrated Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him said: The Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him said- "When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: 'I am observing fast.'" Al-Bukhari and Muslim

‎ وعنه قال قال النبي- صلى الله عليه وسلم - (من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه) رواه البخاري

Another hadeeth by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): The prophet peace be upon him said "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink." Al-Bukhari

‎قال العلامة ابن عثيمين - رحمه الله- في شرح هذين الحديثين

‎(قال الإمام النووي رحمه الله في كتابه (رياض الصالحين) باب أمر الصائم بحفظ لسانه وجوارحه، والمراد بذلك أنه يجب على الصائم أن يتجنب كل قولٍ محرمٍ وكل فعلٍ محرمٍ لأن الله تعالى إنما فرض الصيام من أجل التقوى، كما قال تعالى: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على الذين من قبلك لعلكم تتقون)، أي من أجل أن تتقوا الله عز وجل وتجتنبوا محارمه، ولا يُريد الله من عباده أن يضيّق عليهم بترك الأكل والشرب والجماع، ولكن يُريد أن يمتثلوا أمره ويجتنبوا نواهيه، حتى يكون الصيام مدرسة يتعودون فيها على ترك المحرمات وعلى القيام بالواجبات، وإذا كان شهر كامل يمرُّ بالإنسان وهو محافظ على دينه تارك للمحرم قائم بالواجب فإن ذلك سوف يُغيّر من مجرى حياته.

The scholar Ibn Uthaymeen - may Allah have mercy on him - In his explanation of these two hadeeths said: 

Al-Imam An-Nawawi may Allah's mercy on him said in his book Ryadussalihin in the chapter: commanding the fasting one to preserve his tongue and limbs, what is intended by this is that, it is incumbent upon the fasting person to avoid every forbidden statement speech, and every forbidden action because Allah obligated fasting in order to gain piety

As Allah Al-Mighty said

O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

meaning in order that you have piety of Allah and you abstain from all that is forbidden. Allah doesn't want to burden his slaves by commanding them to abstain from eating and drinking and having sexual intercourse, but He wants them to abide to his commands and abstain from what he has forbidden

So that fasting becomes like a school where they are get used to abandoning the prohibitions and carrying out their duties. If one month passes by and the human being is abiding by his religion , leaving that which is forbidden haram and carrying his duties, this will definitely change the course of his life

ولهذا بيّن الله الحكمة من ذلك بأنها التقوى، وقال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - (إذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يفسُق) يعني: لا يفعل فعلا محرما ولا يقول قولا محرما، (فإن سابّه أحد) يعني: صار يعيبه ويشتمه، (أو قاتله)، (فليقل إني صائم)، حتى يدفع عن نفسه العجز عن المدافهة ويبيّن لصاحبه أنه لولا الصيام لقابلتُك بمثل ما فعلتَ بي، فيبقى عزيزا لا ذليلا لكنه ذلٌّ لعبودية الله تعالى، وطاعة الله

For this reason, Allah revealed the wisdom behind fasting and that is piety. The Messenger peace be upon him said: "When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; meaning: he shouldn't commit anything that is forbidden nor say anything that is forbidden"and if anyone reviles him" meaning: humiliating him and cursing him or "or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: 'I am observing fast" So that he doesn't appear weak, and he should clarify to that person that: due to fasting or I would have faced you with something the same as you have done to me. So that he remains honored and not humiliated, but it is a humiliation for the worship of Allah and his obedience

‎وكذلك قال: - صلى الله عليه وسلم- (من لم يدع قول الزور ) يعني قول المحرّم (والعمل به) أي بالمحرم (والجهل) كما في لفظ آخر يعني: العدوان على الناس (فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه)، فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه لأن الله تعالى إنما أوجب الصيام لأهم شيءٍ وهو ترك المحرمات والقيام بالواجبات، والله الموفق.)

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him also said: (Whoever doesn't give up lying speech) meaning saying that which is forbidden. "and acting upon it" meaning the forbidden, "and ignorance" as in another statement , meaning: aggression against the people, "Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink." Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink because Allah prescribed fasting for one important thing, that is-to abandon the prohibitions and carry the duties

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المرجع: (شرح رياض الصالحين) ج3، ص 306-307 ، طبعة دار المستقبل، دار الإمام مالك
Ref: (Explanation of Ryadussalihin c) 3, p. 306-307, edition of Dar Al Mostqibal, Dar of Imam Malik

Translated by: Abu Thar Bassam Hassan Al-Muntasir