The Person Loved by Allah ta’ala

The smell from the mouth of fasting person is more likeable for Allah ta’ala than the smell of musk.

Commentators list eight possible meanings of this. Of these, three are the most acceptable explanations:

1. Some are the opinion that, in the akhriah, Allah ta’ala shall reward that smell fro the mouth with pleasing odour more sweet and refreshing than musk.

2. On the day of Qiyamah when we shall rise from our graves, a sweet smell shall come from the mouths of those who fasted and that shall be better than musk.

3. The interpretation that is the most acceptable in my opinion, is the view that in this very world the smell is more pleasing for Allah ta’ala than musk.

We all know that even a disagreeable smell from a person whom one loves truly and sincerely is in itself attractive to the lover, who is this case is Allah ta’ala Himself. What is indicated is the closeness to Allah ta’ala of the fasting person.

Fasting is one of the most appreciated forms of worship of Allah in Allah ta’ala’s sight. The reward for every deed is brought by the angels, but Allah ta’ala says: ‘The reward for fasting, I Myself become well give, because it is for Me alone.” This is the case only if the fast is really so, with al its requirements and is not merely remaining hungry and thirsty.

Scholars of the shafi’i school argue that through miswak the smell from the teeth is removed, whereas scholars of hanafi school maintain that the odour referred to here is the smell resulting from the stomach being empty, having to do with the teeth.

The second special favour is that the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for him who fasts. The purpose here is to explain that many living beings make du’a on his behalf.

When Allah ta’ala loves a person, He says to the angel Jibra’il, that I love that person, so you also love him. Jibra’il then also loves that person and announces in the heavens: That person is loved by Allah ta’ala; you all should also love him. Thereupon all the inmates of the heavens begin to love him.

Then, love for that person spreads all over the earth. Normally only those who are near to a person seem to love him, but here that hove spreads all over; even the animals in the jungles and the fish in the seas do the same.

The third favour bestowed on the fasting persons is that jannah is decorated for them. At the beginning of every year, jannah begins to be decorated for Ramadan. We know that when an important person is expected to arrive, great care is taken in the preparations for his welcome. For a marriage, for example, preparations commence months in advance. Likewise it is with Ramadan.

The fourth favour is that rebellious shayatin (devils) are chained, as a result of which evil is cut down. One would have expected that, because of the great desire for worship of Allah in the blessed month of Ramadan, the shayatin would try just as hard to pull the faithful away from the right path, so that much more evil would be committed. That is not the case.