Same Fast, Different Rewards

SAME FAST, DIFFERENT REWARDS

Prof Dato Dr Mohd Asri bin Zainul Abidin

Ramadan is a month of worship. The true atmosphere of Ramadan lives within the soul of every person who performs their duties. However, the level of spiritual feeling is not the same for everyone; it depends on the quality of our worship. Even when two people perform the same type and amount of worship, their value in the sight of Allah may differ.

For example, when a group of friends performs Tarawih prayers together, they do not necessarily receive the same reward. This is because there are differences in their level of focus (khusyuk), their sincerity (ikhlas), and the hardships they face while praying. A businessman who closes his shop and leaves his income behind to pray will not receive the same reward as someone who has plenty of free time. Allah knows the true state of His servants.

Rewards for Hardship

Scholars of Usul, such as al-Imam ‘Izzu al-Din ‘Abd al-Salam (d. 660H) in his book Qawa’id al-Ahkam, explained this beautifully. He clarified that the difference in reward between two similar acts is not because the act itself is different, but because of the extra hardship endured.

He gave the example of two people performing a ritual bath (Ghusl)—one during a freezing winter and the other during a warm summer. In terms of the bath itself, they receive the same reward because the requirements and steps are identical. However, the one bathing in the cold receives a greater reward because of the heavier burden they had to bear. The same applies to those traveling to the mosque, performing Hajj, or participating in Jihad. The reward varies not because of a difference in purpose, but because of the difference in the journey taken to get there.

The Same Applies to Fasting...

Fasting works the same way. Even if the purpose, the rules, and the Sunnah of the fast are the same, the rewards will differ based on the burden carried by the person fasting. We must realize that every struggle faced by a believer is recorded as a reward by Allah. Allah never lets any good deed go to waste. As He promises in the Quran:

وَٱصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

(Meaning: "And be patient, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.") — Surah Hud: 115

The justice of Allah ensures that every servant has their own space for mercy. Someone who fasts while doing heavy, exhausting manual labor surely receives more reward than someone resting in a comfortable, air-conditioned office or home. A person who struggles just to find a morsel of food to break their fast, or who works hard to provide food for others to break their fast, receives an extra reward compared to those who break their fast in luxury.

Similarly, fasting in a challenging environment—such as a workplace where others are not fasting, or in a country where the conditions are difficult—brings a higher reward. Fasting on a scorching hot day is a heavier burden than fasting on a cool day; therefore, the reward is greater. Someone whose patience is tested by others while fasting, but who remains calm to protect the sanctity of their fast, will receive a higher reward than someone fasting in peace and comfort.

All these details are calculated by Allah. A servant of Allah should know that He never ignores any sacrifice made for His sake.

Successfully, overcoming the challenges of fasting makes the soul more humble and raises one’s spiritual value. Fasting without feeling hunger or facing any tests still has spiritual value, but it is not the same as fasting while navigating Allah’s trials. Every individual reaches their own spiritual level. No one truly knows whose fast holds the highest rank—only Allah knows the true station of His servants.