وَ كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ فِيمَا كَتَبَ مِنْ جَوَابِ مَسَائِلِهِ عِلَّةُ الصَّوْمِ لِعِرْفَانِ مَسِّ الْجُوعِ وَ الْعَطَشِ لِيَكُونَ ذَلِيلًا مُسْتَكِيناً مَأْجُوراً مُحْتَسِباً صَابِراً وَ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ دَلِيلًا لَهُ عَلَى شَدَائِدِ الْآخِرَةِ مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الِانْكِسَارِ لَهُ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَاعِظاً لَهُ فِي الْعَاجِلِ دَلِيلًا عَلَى الْآجِلِ لِيَعْلَمَ شِدَّةَ مَبْلَغِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْفَقْرِ وَ الْمَسْكَنَةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.
Read English translationHide English translationBab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn
Hadith.1767 - Abu al-Hasan Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (as) wrote to Muhammad ibn Sinan in response to his questions: "The reason for fasting is to understand the feeling of hunger and thirst, so that one becomes humble, submissive, rewarded, mindful, and patient. It serves as a reminder of the hardships of the Hereafter. Additionally, it breaks one’s desires and acts as a preacher in this world, guiding toward the Hereafter. Through fasting, one comprehends the severity of the state of the poor and destitute in this world and the Hereafter."
Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.