This year Ramadan is taking place during summer, with extremely long days that may cause difficulties for some Muslims especially those who live in northern Europe. Some may express a negative attitude towards the long fasts and others might try to find excuses to avoid fasting altogether. Others may complain that there are disadvantages to fasting such long days. An underlying reason for such objections is the weakness of our belief in the afterlife that is true and everlasting.

There are many examples for us from the early generations of Muslims where they deliberated the long arduous fast. We know that Madinah, the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is a very hot place in the summer and yet it was reported that he used to fast frequently. His wife, A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, remarked that he used to fast continuously until they thought that he will not cease fasting, and likewise he used not to fast to the extent that they thought that he will not fast again. It was also narrated that Abu'l-Darda' (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

"We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [on a journey] during the month of Ramadaan 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 Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and 'Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1945; Muslim, no. 1122).

His beloved wife and our mother A'ishah used to follow his Sunnah. Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, a scholar from the latter era of the second generation, said:

Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, the nephew of A'ishah, informed of A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 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)."[1]

The famous companion, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) heard someone call out - most likely from the righteous jinn- at sea:

"Allah 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 (ie the peak of summer), it is a right upon Allah that this person have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection."

Abu Musa would search out the days that were so hot that one would feel he was being cooked, and he would fast those days.[2]

When a person feels the sweetness of being close to Allah and starts thinking about the reality of this life compared to the reality of the second life, his or her experience of acts of worship will be very different. The physical tiredness will turn to enjoinment for the sake of whom he loves: Allah, and His pleasure and Paradise. Sa'eed ibn Jubayr, the famous scholar and righteous person, said:

When Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) 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."[3]

Similar statements were attributed to many from the early generations. For example, 'Alqamah ibn 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)".[4]

It is amazing to know that the early Muslims competed in doing good deeds even if they were not known as scholars and were just among the lay people. Al-Bayhaqi in his book al-Sunan narrated that once Abdullah Ibn 'Umar went out to the outskirts of al-Madinah with some of his companions. They put out a dining mat when a shepherd passed by. Ibn 'Umar 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."[5]

In a similar story, Sa'eed ibn Salim said one of the noble leaders known as Rawh bin Zinba, whose father was a Companion came to a place between Makkah and Madinah on a very hot day. His meal was brought to him when a shepherd from the mountain approached, He said to him, "O shepherd, come and eat with me." The shepherd said: "I'm fasting." Ruh said, "You're fasting in this heat?" The shepherd replied:

"Should I let my days pass by in vain?"

Ruh then recited a couplet: "You have used your days wisely O herder, while Ruh bin Zinba' has wasted his."[6]

It was attributed to Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, the famous Companion of the Prophet who was known for his piety, that he said:

"O people, I am an advisor 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 advisor to you all and considerate." [7]

The famous scholar Ibn al-Qayyim who used to speak frequently about the actions of the hearts explained how a person can carry out difficult tasks by saying:

"Know that a slave traverses the heights of travel to Allah by his heart and volition and not by his body. Taqwa (piety) in reality is the piety of the heart not that of the body. Allah says, 'And whoever honours the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.' and the Prophet said, 'Piety is here – and he pointed to his heart' ". Thus the smart person can traverse a distance by sound resolve and high aspiration; and pure focus and correct intention, along with little action that is several times more compared to the distance traversed by one who is void of all this even if the latter has with him much labour and undergoes an arduous travel. Resolve and love (both) do away with difficulty and make the journey pleasant. Advancement and being foremost in racing to Allah subhaanahu is only achieved by aspirations, genuine love and determination. Hence, one who possesses aspiration with little activity outstrips one who does much by many ranks. If however their aspirations are of the same level then one can outstrip anther through action."

It is a sad indictment of our state that if one of us were presented by an employer with the opportunity to work day and night for a month in lieu of a luxury car and large mansion situated in a prime location, I am certain he or she would jump at the chance. Others would even complain at not being afforded this same opportunity. The reality is that if we had a strong conviction in what Allah has promised us for fasting long days we would wish that Ramadan extended to the entire year, and with long daylight hours. Allah says,

"Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!"[8]

"Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning."[9]

A number of Qur'anic commentators state that those who fast are among those who are patient.

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 Wali of Allah (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-Liege 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."[10]

Many of us wish that our fasts pass by easily – while we tolerate a little difficulty we expect a significant reward without the exertion of any real effort. Many people hold that fasting should be easy as they do not expect to face any hardship on the path of salvation. However, once a person prepares himself mentally and spiritually, fasting will be easy. Real strength is not of a physical nature but rather of the heart.

In addition to the above points, there are number of things that can help people to fast long days. The pre-dawn meal (suhoor) is a main aide.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Partake in the pre-dawn meal (suhur) for in the suhur there is blessing (barakah)." [11]

Consuming dates for your suhoor and iftaar is another fundamental component. Besides being a sunnah encouraged by our Prophet (peace be upon him), it is the experience of many people that eating dates for suhoor removes thirst, hunger and tiredness.

Another practical way that may help many persons to fast long days is to be busy during the day. The best thing a person can make himself busy with during the days of Ramadan is reading Quran, as we know this is the month of the Quran.

If a person has a target of a good amount of the Quran to read, learn or even memorise during the days of Ramadan, one will notice that the days are not boring and pass by quite quickly. Supplicating to Allah is also a prime method by which to make worship easy upon the slave. Allah says:

"And when My servants ask you concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be guided."[12]

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[1] al-Tahawi, Sharh Ma'ani al-A'athar, (vol.2, p.70)
[2] 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)
[3] Ibn Abi Shaybah (vol.7, p.230)
[4] Abu Nu'aym, Hilyatu'l-Awliya (vol.2, p.88)
[5] al-Bayhaqi
[6] Tarikh Ibn Ma'in (vol.4, p.455)
[7] Ahmad, al-Zuhd, p.148
[8] 69:24
[9] 39:10
[10] Ibn Abi Dunya, al-Ju', hadith no. 40.
[11] al-Bukhari and Muslim
[12] al-Baqarah 2:186