Merits of the Month of Ramaḍān

Aḥmad b. Ziyād b. Jaʿfar al-Hamadānī narrated to us, saying that ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm b. Hāshim narrated to him among others, from his father, from Muḥammad b. Abī ʿUmayr, saying that Hishām b. al-Ḥakam narrated to him among others, who said: “I asked Abā ʿAbd Allāh عليه السلام about the reason for which fasting was ordained. He said: “The reason for fasting is to put the plutocrat and the pauper on equal grounds. That is because the plutocrat has not found himself touched by hunger, so he may have mercy upon the pauper, because the plutocrat can intend to do anything and he has the capability to do so. So, Allāh عز وجل intends to establish equality between the creatures, and that the plutocrat may get a taste of hunger and hardship in order to do good upon the weak ones, and feed the hungry.”