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As Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,

As Ramadan as recently left us once again, fasting is still fresh in our minds.  As we are in the month of Shawwal, we are often reminded of the additional 6 days of fasting that is recommended to make up for deficiency in our fasting during Ramadan and to provide the reward of a full year's worth of fasting.  Fasting itself is mentioned in many hadith in relation to great reward, when it should be performed, and the use of fasting as a defense.  In one hadith related to its importance, we see the importance of reward:

Abu Umamah reported:  "I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.'  He said: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting.'" (Ahmad, Nasa'i)

and in another:

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah said: The fast is for me and I will give the reward for it, as he (who observes it) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake.  Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord.  and the smell of the mouth of the fasting person is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk." (Bukhairi)

Here we also see the basics of fasting in this hadith, however it doesn't cover another important aspect of leaving bad actions and speech.  So the act of fasting is a conscious effort to avoid sin above our normal struggles.  In other hadiths, it is mentioned that fasting restricts Shaytain's ability to flow through the veins of the body, thus reducing influence from outside as well.

Clarifying another point in the previous hadith, the screen from Hell:

Abu Sai'd Al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said. "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face." (multiple collections)

In another hadith, we see that fasting is one of the intercessors on the Day of Judgement

Abdullah ibn 'Amer reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The fast and the Quran are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.  The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day.  Let me intercede for him.'  The Quran will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night.  Let me intercede for him.'  And their intercession will be accepted." (Ahmad)

From this brief view of fasting, we can see that there is an immeasurable reward waiting for the one who performs it.  Some other aspects to it, fasting improves the acceptance of Du'a, it gives us extra free time during the day that can be used for additional ibadah, and it helps us spend the whole day focusing on our Lord in this full day act of ibadah.  It is a great opportunity for all of us to improve ourselves and seek success in the hearafter.  Let us strive to increase our fasting and learn the sunnah's related to its practice, and the recommended days to perform it.