18 Reasons Why Muslims Should Fast in Ramadan

Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Life & Society Topics: Fasting (Sawm), Muslims, Ramadan Views: 58023
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O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. [Quran 2:183]

Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayers for the Muslims. The fast consists of total abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk. There is, however, a greater significance to fasts than mere abstinence from eating and drinking. The real objective of fasts is to inculcate in man the spirit of abstinence from sins and of cultivation of virtue. Thus the Qur'an declares that the fasts have been prescribed with a view to developing piety in man, as is clear from the verse quoted at the top of this page.

How are the many facets of piety sought to be cultivated through the fasts?

  1. The prime consideration in undertaking fast, as in any act of devotion, is to seek NEARNESS TO GOD and beseech HIS PLEASURE and FORGIVENESS. This itself generates a spirit of piety in man.
  2. The willful creation of the stringent conditions of hunger and thirst for one's own self, simply in obedience to the Divine Order, measures the FAITH of man in God and helps to strengthen it by putting it to a severe test.
  3. Fasting enhances through creation of artificial non-availability, the value of the bounties of God, which man is apt to take for granted in the midst of plentiful availability, and thus inculcates in man a spirit of GRATITUDE and consequent DEVOTION to GOD. Nothing else can bring home to man the worth of God's bounties than a glass of water and a square meal after a day‑long fast. This also reminds man that the real joy in enjoying God's bounties lies in MODERATION and RESTRAINT and not in OVER INDULGENCE.
  4. Fasting makes us deeply conscious of the pangs of hunger and discomfort suffered by the less fortunate among our brethren, who may have to put up with such stringent conditions all through their lives it thus enkindles in man a spirit of SACRIFICE leading to CHARITY towards his suffering brethren.
  5. Fasting affords man an unfailing training in ENDURANCE i.e. a SPIRIT OF. ACCEPTANCE of the inevitable, which could well prepare him to put up with the unchangeable situations in life in the same spirit of RESIGNATION as cultivated during the fasts.
  6. Fasting develops COURAGE, FORTITUDE and a FIGHTING SPIRIT IN man to surmount the heavy odds in life with a cool and tranquil mind. It sharpens his, power of CONCENTRATION to overcome obstacles, through a vigorous exercise all through the month, leading to a steeling of his WILL POWER and RESOLVE, which could help him in trying situations in actual life. It is seen that many an undesirable habit which is found hard to leave, is more easily left off during the days of fasting.
  7. Fasting teaches man RELIANCE on God and CONFIDENCE in HIM in facing the bitter situations in life with the comforting thought that these too, ordained by Him, could well be surmounted through His assistance alone, even as the rigorous state of fasting for a complete month. For, fasting develops the quality of PATIENCE in man, with the realization that, as the days of fasting, though seeming unending do have a successful and, so are all the bitter situations in life. It therefore infuses a spirit of GOOD CHEER, (driving away BITTERNESS and DESPAIR) in his attitude towards life and in his demeanor towards others.
  8. Through quick alternation of the state of plenty and of scarcity, fasting seeks to inculcate in man the right type of attitude in different situations in life of GRATITUDE and THANKSGIVING in plenty and of PATIENCE and FORBEARANCE in difficulty.
  9. Fasting is meant to CONQUER ANGER, not to augment it, and to develop SELF CONTROL in man; for the vigorous effort of willfully putting up with a continued state of hunger and thirst can well be extended to conquer other infirmities of human character that lead man into error and sin.
  10. Fasting inculcates a spirit of TOLERANCE in man to face unpleasant conditions and situations without making his fellow-being the victim of his wrath on account of his adverse conditions, such as deprivation of his basic needs of life, which constitutes the common cause of dissension among men.
  11. Fasting MELLOWS a man and enhances his character, giving jolt to the human instincts of 'PRIDE, HAUGHTINESS, ENVY and AMBITION, for when fasting, a man's energies are too sapped to follow these instincts which are the chief causes of discord and conflict among men.
  12. Fasting exposes the weakness of man in the event of his being deprived of but two of the bounties of God those of food and drink; it thus infuses in him a spirit of MEEKNESS and SUBMISSION, generating HUMILITY and PRAYER in an otherwise arrogant man.
  13. Fasting breathes the spirit of FORGIVENESS in man towards his subordinates, as he himself seeks God's FORGIVENESS through fasts and prayers.
  14. Fasting affords lessons in PUNCTUALITY through man's strict adherence to various time schedules in the observance of fasts and offering of prayers.
  15. Fasting can be made to effect ECONOMY in an individual's life, which can be extended to wider spheres.
  16. Fasting enforces in man rigid DISCIPLINE mental, spiritual and physical a trait of character which forms an essential ingredient to success in human life.
  17. Fasting provides LEISURE, that could he gainfully employed in devotional or intellectual pursuits. The month long duration of fasts creates a proper climate for the SPIRITUAL REFORMATION in man, infusing in him a spirit of enthusiasm and zest to turn over a new leaf an opportunity provided every year.
  18. On the physical side, fasting cleanses the human system of the accumulated impurities of uninterrupted eating throughout the year. It prepares the body for toughness and hardihood to face disease or conditions of scarcity. The rigid abstinence that the fast provides, regulates man's HEALTH, sharpens has INTELLECT, gives spurt to his SPIRITUALLY and enhances the qualities of his HEART. With the cleansing of the human body, it paves the way for its easy and effective rebuilding through meals at the end of the day or after the month is over.

*****

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians), Johannesburg, South Africa.


  Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Life & Society
  Topics: Fasting (Sawm), Muslims, Ramadan
Views: 58023

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Older Comments:
AYNA SAID FROM OMAN said:
informative
2014-06-29

IDRIS FROM NIGERIA said:
Jazaq Allah Khairan. May Allah accept our Ibadah. Ameen.
2014-06-28

MALICK FROM USA said:
Great article. Every fasting benefit I usually comes across only rehashes the same 3 reasons for fasting, this article seems to cover them all, physical, mental, emotional, societal, spiritual, religious ...
2012-07-08

ABDUR RAZAQ FROM NIGERIA said:
It's educative and informative. May Allah (sub'anau wa ta'ala) reward you. Ameen.
2011-07-30

AMINUR RAHMAN LASKAR FROM INDIA said:
it is a great piece of encouragement for the muslims going through fasting in this summer of india and other part of world.
2010-08-13

SHAMEEM FROM INDIA said:
Assalamu alaikum, dear brothers and sister in Islam. A article boyoth
atcha hi. It is very useful for me and all muslims....
2010-08-13

ABDUL SHAIBU FROM NIGERIA said:
Salam
2010-08-08

ALIYU IBN HAMZA FROM 158 said:
YOUR ARTICLE IS A MASTER PEACE KEEP ON EDUCATING,INFORMING AND SENSITIZING US WE LIKE, WE LOVE IT.MAY ALLAH ALMIGHTY CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU THE WISDOM,STRENGHT AND PERSAVERANCE TO DO THE GOOD WORK.
2010-08-06

NAJJAR FROM MOROCCO said:
Dear Naveed, assalamou aleykoum, I agree with you this is an excellent article about fasting, may Allah bless the authors. However I would not worry what others think, especially the Anglophones and the Francophones, and perhaps in most of other western languages, 'Man' in English as 'Homme' in French as everyone knows is used to mean Human, irrespective of sex, especially in scientific and works of literature. As for Arabic, in the Noble Qur'an as in scientific and works of literature and even in the Arab streets, the word Al-Insan (Human) is used and not rajoul ot rajel (man). I wish you and yours Ramadan karim and moubarak.
2010-08-05

NAVEED MALIK FROM USA said:
Assalaamu Alaikum Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Jazakum Allahu khairn for a beautiful article on reminding and sharing the virtues of Ramadan. Ma Sha Allah, very well written.
However, if I make one suggestion:

Please use the gender that is applicable to both the men and women. I believe when we write/or say/express things in Islam, generally, they apply to both men and women. In the article the 'man' is used 26 times and the pronoun 'his, him' are used 19 times. There was hardly any mention of women and how Ramadan benefits women too.

I am aware of the prevalent use of the word 'man' to refer to both men and women in many Muslim countries; however, when people in the west read/hear/see something like this, begin to blame Islam that Islam suppresses/oppresses women, which is TOTALLY FALSE. Islam is the religion and the Way of Life that restored and elevated the rightful stature of women in society 1400+ years ago, whereas the women just won the right to vote in America in the 20th century (This is a matter of fact.).

Once again, Jazakum Allahu khairn and Ramadan Mubarak to the complete Muslim Ummah.

Your brother in Islam
Naveed
2010-08-04