Living The Quran
Reasons to Fast
Al Baqara (The Cow) - Chapter 2: Verse 183
 "O
you who Believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop consciousness
of God."
“What is fasting?” “How
does the fasting of Muslims in Ramadan differ from the fasting of other
faiths?” “Why should one ‘torture’ one’s body in the first place?” “What
do you really gain from fasting in the end?" These are a few questions
that a number of non-Muslim friends and colleagues often ask us, usually
out of fascination with this spiritually-uplifting practice of Islamic
faith, and at times out of pity and sympathy for us, thinking, why
should anyone suffer from hunger and thirst like Muslims? I wouldn’t be
surprised if many of us shared the same negative perception of fasting.
It is important to note that fasting in Arabic is called “Sawm”,
which literally means ‘to be at rest’. Fasting in the month of Ramadan
(the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) is one of the Five Pillars
upon which the “house” of Islam is built. During this month, every
able-bodied Muslim is required to fast everyday from dawn until dusk
7 Reasons To Fast
- Fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character of human being. The
purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint,
self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring
and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a
universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world,
with more restrictions in some than in others. The Islamic fast, as
opposed to mere starvation or self-denial, is an act of worship and
obedience to God, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and
self-examination.
- Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When
we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to
endure it patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social
and humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else
in sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and
responding to their needs.
- It cultivates in us the principle of sincere love because
when we observe fasting we do it out of deep love for God. And a
person, who loves God, truly is a person who knows what love is and why
everyone on this Earth should be loved and treated justly, for the sake
of God.
- Fasting elevates
the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It strengthens our
willpower as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The
institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human
history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to
master their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their
emotions. Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience.
Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that
it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their
reason and will above their carnal passions.
- With the clarity of mind and absence of distractions also comes a greater focus. In
the month of Ramadan, many Muslims try to avoid watching TV, listening
to music, and some other leisure activities, which spares them more time
and energy to be spent on more productive activities such as academics,
intense study of Islam, voluntary prayers, social and humanitarian
causes, and a quality time with the family, to name a few. It is a
reminder of our duty to God, our purpose and higher values in life.
- It makes us realize the reality of life and death. Fasting
makes us realize how dependant our lives are on things that we often
take for granted, such as food and water. It makes us think about our
dependence on God and God’s mercy and justice. Moreover, it reminds us
of the life after death, which itself has a great impact on our
character and our worldview.
- Ramadan is a blessed month for a special reason: it
is actually the month in which God first revealed His final message and
guidance for mankind to our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This message has
been perfectly preserved both orally and textually in the form of a
Book, called the Quran (The Reading/Recital). Therefore, Muslims try to
do an intense study of the Quran in this month especially, and evaluate
their lives according to the standards and guidance contained in it.
In a nutshell, even though
the real purpose of the dynamic institution of fasting is to discipline
our soul and moral behavior, and to develop sympathy for the less
fortunate, it is a multi-functional and a comprehensive tool of change
in various spheres of our lives including social and economic,
intellectual and humanitarian, spiritual and physical, private and
public, personal and common, inner and outer – all in one!
Compiled From:
"The Fasting of Ramadan: A Time for Thought, Action, and Change!" - Taha Ghayyur & Taha Ghaznavi |
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