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A) Fasting in the Holy Quran:
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." (2:183)

"(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew." (2:184)

"Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful." (2:185)

"Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint." (2:187)

"And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment." (2:196)

Fasting is expiation for various sins in thw Holy Quran such as:
• "And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment". (2:196.)

• "Never should a believer kill a believer; but (If it so happens) by mistake, (Compensation is due): If one (so) kills a believer, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave, and pay compensation to the deceased's family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you, and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (Is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom ye have treaty of Mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family, and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their means, (is prescribed) a fast for two months running: by way of repentance to Allah. for Allah hath all knowledge and all wisdom". (4: 92)

• "Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful". (5: 89.)

• "O ye who believe! Kill not game while in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you doth so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the Ka'ba, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgives what is past: for repetition Allah will exact from him the penalty. For Allah is Exalted, and Lord of Retribution." (5: 95)

• "But those who divorce their wives by Zihar, then wish to go back on the words they uttered,- (It is ordained that such a one) should free a slave before they touch each other: Thus are ye admonished to perform: and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do And if any has not (the wherewithal), he should fast for two months consecutively before they touch each other. But if any is unable to do so, he should feed sixty indigent ones, this, that ye may show your faith in Allah and His Messenger. Those are limits (set by) Allah. For those who reject (Him), there is a grievous Penalty." (58: 3,4)

The reward for fasting is immense:
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fasting is a shield. Let no one who is fasting commit any obscenity or foolishness. Should anyone engage him in a fight or a slanging match, let him answer him by saying: I am fasting, I am fasting".

"Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving then times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.' for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk." [al-Bukhari]

Also, Sahl Ibn Sa`d said that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it, so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and whoever enters it, drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty." [Ibn Khuzaimah, Sahih].

Fasting is a shield against the Fire:
"Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire." [Ahmad, Sahih]

Fasting in the path of Allah
Abu Sa'eed al-Khudhriy, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever fasts a day in the path of Allah, Allah will keep his face at a distance of seventy years from the fire (of Jahannum)." - Muslim vol.1 pg.364

Fasting is a means for one's sins to be forgiven:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "He who fasts Ramadan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven." [al-Bukhari, Muslim]

The supplication of the fasting person is answered:
"There are in the month of Ramadan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim an supplication which he can make and will be granted." [al-Bazzaaz, Ahmad, Sahih]

The fasting person will be among the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs:
Amr Ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee r.a.a. said: "A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the Zakah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadan, then amongst whom shall I be?' He said: 'Amongst the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs.' " [Ibn Hibbaan, Sahih]

Fasting is a shield against one's base desires:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) told the youth: "O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield for him." [al-Bukhari, Muslim]

A means of intercession
Abdullah ibn Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The fast and the Qur'aan will seek intercession for a person. The fast will say, O my sustainer, I deprived him from food and fulfilling desires during the day, allow me to intercede for him. The Qur'aan will say, 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, thus allow me to intercede for him, and intercession will be granted." - Shu'bul Imaan vol.2 pg.346 - Hadeeth No.1994

Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

"When the first night of Ramadaan approaches, the doors of paradise are opened and the doors of hell are closed and the devils are chained." - Muslim vol.1 pg.346

Umrah during Ranadan
Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The reward of performing Umrah during Ramadaan is equivalent to the reward of one Hajj" - Tirmidhi vol.1 pg.186 The virtues of Suhoor (a last meal shortly before dawn) Anas may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Have Suhoor (partake of a last meal shortly before dawn) for truly there is blessings in the Suhoor." - Bukhari vol.1 pg.257; Muslim vol.1 pg.350; Tirmidhi vol.1 pg.150

The night of AlQadr
This is a night in the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan where the Holy Quran was revealed.

The Holy Quran says, "Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit [Jibril] descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, will all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn." (Qur’an, Surat al-Qadr: 97)

The noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, "Whoever prays on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven." [Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him)]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, also said, "Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights." [Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Sa`id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him)]

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