Merits and Benefits of Siyam

1) FASTING in the month of Ramadan :

It is the fourth pillar of Islam. (Obligatory/Mandatory)
The ummah is agreed that fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory, the evidence for which is in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Observing al-sawn (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Islam is built on five [pillars]…” among which he mentioned fasting in Ramadan." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 1/49). Whoever breaks the fast during Ramadaan without a legitimate excuse has committed a serious major sin, The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, describing a dream that he had seen: “… until I was at the mountain, where I heard loud voices. I asked, ‘What are these voices?’ They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.’ Then I was taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, ‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘The people who broke their fast before it was the proper time to do so,’ i.e., before the time of iftaar.” (Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/420).

Note: -
If someone denies the obligation of Fasting the Month of Ramadan, then he is outside of Islam.
If some does not fast the Month of Ramadan, knowing its obligation, then he/she is guilty of committing a Major Sin.

MERITS OF FASTING:-
Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) Proclaims interpretation of the meaning is : -
"Every deed of the child of Adam is for himself, except for fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward it.’Fasting is a shield, so if it is a day of fasting for any one of you, then he should engage in no obscenity or shouting. If anyone belittles him or fights with him, he should just say ‘I am a person who is fasting’.I swear by Him in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the smell of the fasting person’s breath is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than that of musk. The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast because of his breaking it and the other when he meets his Lord because of the reward for his fast."
[Sahîh al-Bukhârî (7492) and Sahîh Muslim (1151) with the wording being that of Muslim]

It is narrated by Abu Huraira(radhi Allahu anhu) : The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: -
“…Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
(Sahih Bukhari Sahih al-Bukhari 38)

In another hadith narrated by Abu Huraira(radhi Allahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” (Bukhari 1899 & Muslim)

BENEFITS OF SIYAM(Sawm/fasting) :

A) Spiritual/Moral Benefits:

* Above all it is an act of obedience to Allah.
* Trains believers in TAQWA (Being Mindful of Allah & Fearing Him by doing all that He ordered & avoiding all that He has forbade).
* Teaches Patience & sincerity.
* Develops endurance & Self-restraint.
* Restricts the movement of the Shaitan.

B) Social Benefits:

* Strengthens unity & equality between Muslims.
* Teaches sympathy towards the poor & needy.

C) Medical Benefits:

* Rests the Digestive organs & gets rid of accumulated waste.
* Uses up stored cholesterol (Fats) in the Blood System, which is one of the causes of Heart Disease.
* Teaches self control from over-eating, smoking etc.
* Self control and discipline exercised in Ramadan provide an excellent beginning to "kick" these bad habits.