There are groups of people who fall in the category of theexalted. These groups shall be blessed with Allah (SwT)’s mercy and shall beimmensely rewarded. Those who fast fall in this category, as ordained:
”Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believingwomen, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women,patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, charitable men andcharitable women, fasting men and fasting women, men who guard their chastityand women who guard, men who remember God frequently and women who remember;God has prepared for them a pardon, and an immense reward” (33:35)
It is thus clear that the men and the women who fast fall inthe category of people for whom the Divine Pardon has been prepared and theyshall be immensely rewarded. The Ayah Sharief starts with Muslim men and Muslimwomen, which may be taken to mean the men and women who submit to the will ofAllah (SwT) ever and always.
The Holy Verse proceeds to list the desirable traits amongmen and women, which equally stand to obtain the Divine Pardon and who shall beimmensely rewarded. These desirable traits are belief in Almighty Allah (SwT)obedience of Divine Decrees, being truthful, patient, humble and charitable.Also, stressed for both men and women is guarding chastity, as also rememberingGod frequently carries the Divine Pardon and an immense reward.
Those who are listed above—men and women with desirabletraits remain the people to whom Allah (SwT)’s ‘Law of Mukafat’ shall providefull protection against all types of doom. They will get the award for alltheir efforts and deeds. And, in this regard there is no difference between menand women–both would be recipients of Allah (SwT)’s bounty and benevolence.