False Speech And Acting Upon It While Fasting?
Shaykh Prof. Dr. Saʿd al-Khathlaan
Indeed, the month of Ramadan is an educational nurturing for the Muslim, in which he is trained upon noble character traits, keeping away from sins, and avoiding vile actions. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, then Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.”
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 1903, and Muslim, no. 2303, from the ḥadeeth of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما.)
His saying “false speech and acting upon it” includes verbal sins, while “acting upon it” includes physical sins.
The meaning of this ḥadeeth is that whoever does not adhere to the proper manners of fasting, commits verbal and/or physical sins, and who does not respect the sanctity of fasting, may reach the level mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ that there is no reward for him and no recompense for his fasting. Even if he attains freedom from liability (because the obligation is technically fulfilled), he may not receive any reward for his fast due to a lack of respect for fasting and his boldness in falling into sins while fasting.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Muslim to observe the etiquettes of fasting. A Muslim must generally avoid sins at all times, and even more so during fasting. When this meaning is realized, fasting fulfill its educational purpose for the Muslim: training him to abandon sins and to perform acts of obedience; thus, making Ramadan truly a school of fasting.
A benefit from the book ʿUqud al-Jumaan in the Ramadan lessons