Virtues of Fasting During the Long Hot Summer Days


The blessings and rewards related to fasting are truly immense. However they are even more greater for those who fast during the long hot summer days because of the thirst that one experiences in the midday heat.

Immense rewards of fasting in the heat:

Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said: “From that which multiplies one’s reward in the intense heat from the acts of obedience is: fasting – due to that which is in it from thirst of the midday heat.” (Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.429)

A special gate of Paradise designated to those who fasted in the heat:

Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said: “When the fasting people remained patient for the sake of Allaah in the heat upon the severity of thirst and of thirstiness, He designated for them a gate from the gates of Paradise – and it is the gate of Ar-Rayyaan. Whoever enters (from it) takes a drink, and whoever drinks will not be thirsty ever again after that. So when they have entered, it will be closed upon those after them, so no one other than them shall enter from it. (Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.431)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) fasted in the heat:

“We went out with the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) [on a journey] during the month of Ramaḍān when it was intensely hot, such that one of us would put his hand on his head because of the intense heat, and no one among us was fasting apart from the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and ‘Abd-Allāh b. Rawāhah.” (al-Bukhaari, 1945; Muslim, no. 1122)

His Beloved Wife and our Mother ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanha) used to follow his Sunnah:

Yahya b. Abī Kathīr, a scholar from the latter era of the second generation, said: Al-Qasim b. Muhammad, the nephew of ʿĀ’ishah, informed of ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanha) that she would fast on a journey in the heat. I asked, “What compelled her to do that?” He said, “She used to take advantage (of the situation).” (al-Tahawi, Sharh Ma’ani al-A’athar, (vol.2, p.70))

The Sahaba (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhum) would fast during the heat:

Ibn Rajab mentioned: “It has been reported from Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) that he would fast during the summer and would eat and drink during the winter.

‘Umar (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) at the time of his death enjoined (some advice) upon his son ‘Abdullaah, so he said to him: ‘upon you are the qualities of Eemaan’ and he designated the first of them as: fasting in the severe heat during the summer.” (Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.429)

The famous companion Abū Mūsā al-Ash’ari (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) heard someone call out – most likely from the righteous jinn – at sea: “Allāh has made it incumbent upon Himself that whosoever makes himself thirsty on a hot day, from the days of this life which are extremely hot (i.e. the peak of summer), it is a right upon Allāh that this person have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection.” Abū Mūsā would search out the days that were so hot that one would feel he was being cooked, and he would fast those days. (Ibn al-Mubarak, al-Zuhd; Ibn Abi Dunya, al-Hawatif. Also narrated in Ibn Abi Shaybah (vol.2, p.273) and Abdur Razzaq (vol.4, p.308))

It was attributed to Abū Dharr al-Ghifāri, the famous Companion of the Prophet who was known for his piety, that he said: “O people, I am an adviser to you all and considerate. Pray in the darkness of the night for the loneliness of the grave. Fast in this world for the heat of the Day of Resurrection. Give charity fearing the day of hardship. O people, I am an adviser to you all and considerate.” (Ahmad, al-Zuhd, p.148)

Once ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar went out to the outskirts of al-Madīnah with some of his companions. They put out a dining mat when a shepherd passed by. Ibn ʿUmar said, “Come O shepherd and partake from this dining mat.” He said: “I am fasting,” Ibn ‘Umar responded, “You fast on a hot day like this while you are on these steep hillocks seeing to these sheep?” The herder replied, “I’m taking advantage of my remaining days.”(al-Bayhaqi)

Fasting in the heat is a practice of those foremost in doing good deeds:

Ibn Rajab said: “Some of the righteous women would strive for the most severe days of heat and so fast within them, so it was mentioned to them concerning that, so one of them said: ‘indeed the price – when it becomes inexpensive then everyone purchases it’ – indicating that she does not prefer except the action that cannot be managed except by a few from amongst the people due to its severity upon them – and this is from high-aspiration.” (Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.430)

Regret after death from missing out on fasting in the Summer heat and praying in the winter nights:

When ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) was near death he said, “I have not left anything behind from this world that I am grieved to leave behind other than the thirst of the midday heat (due to fasting) and walking to attend the prayer.” (Ibn Abi Shaybah (vol.7, p.230))

Qataadah reported that when ‘Aamir bin ‘Abd Qais was on his death bed, he cried, so it was said: “What makes you cry?” he said: “I do not cry out of anxiousness of death, nor out of aspiration over worldliness, but I cry on the basis of the thirst of the midday heat and of standing in the night (for prayer).” (Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa vol 4 p.19)

‘Alqamah b. Marthad, a scholar from the latter era of the second generation, said “I do not cry about your world out of desire of it, but I cry out of missing out (because of death) on the thirst of the midday heat (due to fasting) and the winter night prayer (due to its length)”. (Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatu’l-Awliya (vol.2, p.88))

Marriage to the Hur Al Ayn for those who fasted the long hot summer days:

Al-Hasan al-Basri, the well-known scholar from the second generation and the one who was known for his wisdom in speech, said: The Houra, a title of one of the beautiful women in paradise, shall say to the walī of Allāh, the righteous person, whilst he lounges with her beside a river of honey passing him a cup, “What a great life! Do you know, O beloved of God, when it was that my Lord wedded me to you?” He shall say, “I do not know.” She shall say, “He watched you on a long summer’s day whilst you were thirsty in the midday heat, and He called the angels saying “Look at My slave. He has left his wife and pleasure and food and drink for Me out of his desire for what I have for him. Bear witness that I have forgiven him,” and He forgave you on that day and wedded me to you.” (Ibn Abi Dunya, al-Ju’, hadith no. 40.)

Fast in the heat as a reminder of the heat of the day of resurrection:

Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said: “It appropriate for the one who is in the heat of the sun that he bears in mind its heat in the place of standing (on the Day of Resurrection). Verily; the sun shall draw close to the heads of the servants on the Day of Resurrection, and will become greater in its heat.

It is likewise appropriate for the one who cannot have patience upon the heat of the sun in the life of this world – that he keeps away from the actions that necessitate for its companion by way of them the entry into the Fire. For indeed; no one has the fortitude against it – nor the patience.” (Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.429)

Almighty Allah says regarding those who strive towards good deeds no matter how difficult:

“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!” (Al-Qur’ān, 69:24)

“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.” (Al-Qur’ān, 39:10)

And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it with the effort due for it while he is a believer, then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated [by Allah]. (Al-Israa: 19)

May Allah enable us to be amongst those who are foremost in doing good deeds and to be able to fast the long hot summer days and worship the long cold winter nights for his pleasure. Ameen