30 Khawaatir in 30 Days- A Parent’s Guide | Day 5: Taqwa and Angels

Now that we have learnt about wudu, let’s talk about fasting.

Question: Does anyone know why Allah ﷻ requires us to fast in Ramadan? 

It does help us feel how the poor are feeling, but what does Allah ﷻ tell us in the Qur’an?

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾

“Oh you who believe, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may attain taqwa,” (Surat al-Baqara aya 183).

Question: What do you think taqwa means?

Taqwa comes from the root word وقى, wa-qa-ya, which means to shield. We are essentially shielding ourselves from displeasing Allah ﷻ, and that takes a lot of focus! 

One day Ubay ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) and Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), were discussing the idea of taqwa and Ubay asked Umar a question.

He said, “Have you ever taken a thorny path?” Umar replied, “Yes I have.” Ubay then asked, “So how did you travel along this thorny path?” Umar replied, “I rolled up my garment and was cautious as to where I would tread to avoid being pricked by the thorns.” So Ubay responded and said, “This is Taqwa.”

Question: Can anyone show me how they would step through a thorny path?

Oh! That’s really good! I liked how careful you were not to step on the thorns!

Question: Why do you think fasting increases our taqwa?

We are usually distracted in our everyday lives, but knowing that we need to refrain from meeting our most basic needs, like eating and drinking, will constantly remind us that we’re doing this for the sake of Allah ﷻ. 

Question: Now, who can tell me about angels?

Yes! They’re made of light and they surround us when we remember Allah ﷻ. 

Question: Do angels eat or drink? Do they need to sleep? 

No, they don’t need to do any of these things. In Ramadan, we deprive ourselves of food during the day and sleep during the night as we join our family in praying Tarawih. So, this month gives us the opportunity to reach the level of the angels. We have a chance for our souls to be nourished by worshipping our Lord while we have more control over our desires. 

Do you know there are so many benefits to fasting? Fasting gives our body time to rest instead of constantly working to digest food. Fasting also helps clean out the toxins in our body. It also helps regulate our blood sugar and repairs the cells in our body There are so many worldly benefits to fasting, and even more importantly, benefits for our akhirah!  

Question: Do you know there is a special door to Jannah for those that fast often? That door is called the Door of Rayaan. 

Question: Do you have a friend named Rayaan? 

Well, now you know what their name means!

Also, right before you break your fast, you make dua right? Do you know that a fasting person’s dua is accepted? 

دَّثَنَا ابْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ‏”‏‏.‏

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, said, “He who fasts Ramadan, due to iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven,” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Question: Can anyone tell me, outside of Ramadan, what other times would the Prophet fast? 

Mondays and Thursdays of every week, and the 13th, 14th, 15th of the Hijri months. 

Question: Does anyone know the fast of Prophet Dawud? How often would he fast? Do you think you could do that? 

 Every other day