INNER DIMENSIONS OF ISLAMIC WORSHIP
By Hazrat Imaam Abu Hamid al-Ghazaali (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ)
Three Grades
In his book “The Inner Dimensions Of Islamic Worship” Hazrat Imaam Ghaazali (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) one of the great jurists, theologians and mystics of the 12th Century wrote regarding fasting; there are three grades of Fasting:
“Common, Exclusive, and Extra Exceptional”.
Common Ordinary
Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and other base desires.
Special Exclusive
Fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet, and all other organs -- free from sin.
Extra-Exceptional
Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but Almighty Allaah, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those beneficial to religious ends.
The third degree belong to the Prophets, the true Auliya (اولیاء)and the intimates of Allaah (سبحانہ و تعالٰی). It consists in utmost dedication to Allaah, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than Allaah, Exalted is He.
As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It has inward requirement. It means keeping all one's organs free from sin.
Hazrat Jaabir Ibn-e-Abdul laah (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) relates that Almighty
Allaah's Beloved Messenger (صلّی اللہ علیہ وسلّم) said:
"Five things break a man's Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze."
See Not What Displeases Allah (سبحانہ وتعالٰی)
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