The Benefits of Fasting

The Benefits of Fasting

When a person is overcome by material desires and cravings, he becomes negligent of his spiritual being and indifferent to the obligations imposed on him by his Creator. To help man in combating this onslaught, the Almighty has made fasting compulsory once every year for one whole month -- the month of Ramadan. With Ramadan comes restriction on our eating and marital relationship. Compared with some other forms of worship subscribed by Islam, fasting is somewhat demanding because its aim is to discipline and channel our soul. This objective, obviously, can only be achieved by a tough training programme.

When we are having sehri, all of a sudden we hear the Adhan and we stop eating at once. Howsoever strong our need or want to do certain things may be, they are not allowed to us during our fast; we do not give in to our wishes and temptations. This restriction remains till the maghrib Adhan as God has appointed this time for us to discontinue our fast. Therefore, as soon as the Mu’adhin begins his Adhan, we rush forth to eat and drink. After this, there is no restriction throughout the night. We spend the whole month of Ramadan in the same way. There is no doubt in the fact that we feel a certain amount of weakness and inability to perform to our full capacity but the patience and piety we acquire in return is as essential to the soul as air, water and food are to the body, for man does not live by bread and water alone but also by that which comes from his Lord.

Fasting is obligatory for every adult and sane Muslim. If during Ramadan, a person is ill or if he is travelling or if he is unable to fast owing to some reason, then he is required to keep the fasts he has missed whenever he is able to do so.

We gain a lot from fasting. The greatest achievement is that a man’s soul is liberated from the shackles of his wishes and desires and moves a step further towards the lofty summits of knowledge and intellect. He moves a step closer to the Kingdom of Allah by rising above all mundane needs. For this purpose, fasting puts a restriction on all such things which cause an increase in our desires and incline us towards pleasure. When a person endures such constraints, he is able to break his bond with this world and come closer to his Creator. It is this aspect of fasting because of which God says that fasting is for Him and He alone will bestow the reward for it.

The second thing which a person gains from fasting is that the doors of temptation and revolt are closed to a great extent. It is the tongue and the private parts on which the devil attacks the most. The Prophet (sws) said that whosoever could give him guarantee of the two things: one between the two cheeks and the other between the two legs, he would guarantee him Paradise. Fasting puts a check on both these instincts and weakens all inclinations of going overboard with these two. It makes it easy for a person to do all things that are pleasing to Allah and refrain from those which are displeasing to Him. It is this fact which the Prophet (sws) has stated by saying that Satan and his army are chained during the month of Ramadan.

The third thing which a person gains from fasting is that his actual distinction -- freedom of will -- is given a great chance to develop and strengthen so that his character become adorned with the qualities of resolve and determination. He gets disciplined enough to control all sorts of emotions and reactions rising in his self. If a person’s will power is weak he can neither control his wishes from exceeding the limits nor can he remain steadfast on the Shari‘ah. Moreover, he cannot keep such emotions as greed, provocation, hatred and love in check. This requires patience, and, to be patient, it is necessary that he possess a strong power of decision making. Fasting increases this power and disciplines it. It is this power that helps a person to stand for the truth instead of evil. This is the reason that the Prophet (sws) called fasting a shield and asked Muslims to use it in combating evil by just saying: ‘I am fasting’.

The fourth thing a person attains from Fasting is that it inculcates and strengthens the spirit of sacrifice in a person and urges him to show compassion to people who are less fortunate than he. To experience hunger and thirst in a fast brings him closer to the poor and makes him realise their needs. Fasting effects everyone according to his own disposition. People who are sensitive become even more sensitive to and aware of the suffering and sorrow around them.

The fifth thing that a person achieves in Ramadan is that the solitude and isolation he has in this month inclines him to spend more time in reciting the Holy Qur’an with a view to understand and practice its teachings. Allah revealed His Holy Book in this month and made this the month of fasting so that people could thank Him for this bounty. Different Ahadith have revealed that Gabriel used to come to the Holy Prophet (sws) in this month to hear and recite the Qur’an. It is this relationship of the Book of Allah with this month that pious people recite the Qur’an in their late night prayers while the general masses hear the Qur’an in the Taravih prayer said after the 'Isha’ prayer. The Holy Prophet (sws) is reported to have given glad tidings of forgiveness of previous sins to whosoever fasts in this month and stands for prayers at night.

The sixth thing that a person gains from fasting is that if he so desires he can become attentive to his Creator with all his heart and soul. For this, the ‘ibadah of I‘tikaf has been prescribed in this month. Although this is not obligatory for everyone, it is a very essential form of worship to incline our hearts towards God. In religious parlance, I‘tikaf means that a person should isolate himself from everyone in the mosque for ten days or less according to his convenience and devote himself to the Almighty, and unless an indispensable need arises, he should not come out. The Prophet (sws) was very particular in observing I‘tikaf throughout his life. Studying Islamwww.studying-islam.org