and is safeguarded by Allah for the doer until He recompenses him for it. This, then, is the meaning of His words, “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is Mine and I alone shall reward for it.” In other words, all the other deeds of the children of Adam are liable to retaliation: the claim-holders will take them on the Day of Resurrection if he has wronged them. Fasting, however, Allah preserves; the claim-holders have no power over it, and it remains intact for its owner with Allah.

Another explanation is that the statement, “Fasting is Mine and I alone shall reward for it – he left his desire, his food and his drink for My sake,” points to the fact that fasting is an inward act known only to Allah. It is an intention of the heart, unlike the rest of the acts of worship that are outward and visible to people. Fasting, by contrast, is a secret between the servant and his Lord; hence His saying, “Fasting is Mine and I alone shall reward for it – he left his desire, his food and his drink for My sake.” The servant’s abstention from food and drink for Allah’s sake is a hidden deed and a concealed intention that none knows except Allah, unlike charity, prayer, ḥajj and other outward acts that people witness. Indeed, the essence of fasting is not merely to refrain from food, drink or other outward breakers; its essence is that it be done purely for Allah with a sincere intention directed to Him – and that is something known only to Allah. This is the meaning of His words, “Fasting is Mine and I alone shall reward for it,” which He explained by saying, “He left his desire, his food and his drink for My sake.”

Some scholars add that the meaning of the words, “Fasting is Mine and I alone shall reward for it,” is that fasting admits no associationism, unlike other deeds, for the polytheists used to—