Cultivating Good Manners

"Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting." [Bukhari]

Striving for Ihsaan

Ihsaan means to worship Allah as if one sees Him, and even though one does not see Him, He sees all. So when one is fasting, one should gain this quality of watching oneself and also staying away from riyaa’ (showing off). That is why Allah said in a hadeeth qudsee, "Fasting is for Me and I reward it." (Bukhari). Allah singles out fasting from all other types of worship saying, "Fasting is for Me", because no one knows whether you are fasting or not, except Allah.

Repenting

In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammed (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: "Allah, blessed is He and Most High, says: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it. [Tirmithi and Ahmad classed as saheeh]

Family and Unity of Muslims

Our beloved Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, "No people gather in a house form the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it amongst themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround him, and Allah mentions them to those that are with Him." [Muslim]

Likewise, even in our everyday actions such as, eating, Islam teaches us collectiveness. Thus, when some of the Companions of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, we eat but to do not become satisfied." He replied: "Perhaps you eat individually?" They replied: "Yes!" So he said: "Eat collectively and mention the name of Allah. There will then be blessings for you in it."