Why was fasting ordained and what is its wisdom?
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Let us for a moment ponder over the grim fact that among our relatives, loved ones, friends and close acquaintances, there were some who celebrated the last Ramadan with us but who are no longer with us. They have left this world and returned to their Creator. Perhaps there may be some among us who may not live to witness another Ramadan. Death is unavoidable. Its time is decreed. And indeed, time is fleeting. It is running out. So, let us seize the opportunity to make the most out of this Ramadan. The topic of Today’s reflection is: Why was fasting ordained and what is its wisdom?
In the laws, commandments, and rulings, laid out by Allah (SWT) for man, there are certain secrets and insights, which some people may perceive and some may not. The ones who do not perceive or who do not appreciate Allah’s injunctions and guidance do so because of their lack of iman or weakness of iman. May Allah make us among the people of iman.
With regard to fasting Allah declared: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you attain piety.”(al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Therefore, fasting is the way to piety. The fasting person is thus among the closest people to Allah. The stomach of the fasting person becomes hungry while his heart is purified. When he breaks his fast, and quenches his thirst, he is happy that with Allah’s help and tawfiq, he was able to endure the fasting as prescribed.
Fasting weakens lustful desires, evil thoughts, and temptations of disobedience. The Prophet (S) advising the youth said, “O youth! Whoever is able from among you to pay the dowry (Mahr), then he should marry for it is the best way of restraining the eyes and protecting one’s private parts. Whoever is unable to do so, he should fast because it will be for him a shield.”
Fasting reminds the individu’al of his brothers and sisters who are also fasting, some of whom are poor and needy. Thus he empathizes with them and helps them.
Fasting is a school for the training of the soul, purification of the heart, lowering of the gaze and protection of the limbs. It is a secret between the servant and his Lord. According to a Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says, “Every act of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward for it.” According to another Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says, “For every good deed that the son of Adam does, he will have (the reward of) ten times as much, except for fasting. It is for me and I shall reward for it.” That is because only Allah knows the extent of one’s fast. It is quite different from other forms of worship such as prayers, zakat, and hajj, all of which can be witnessed by others. By looking at the face of a person, you cannot know whether or not he is fasting.
It is reported that the righteous predecessors cried with happiness when Ramadan arrived and wept out of sadness when it departed. This is because they knew the essence of fasting; hence they loved Ramadan and made great efforts and sacrifices in it. They stayed up during its nights, bowing and prostrating themselves in humility. They passed its days in remembrance, recitation and learning. Numerous accounts confirm that they used to sit with their Qurans in the masajid, crying. They also protected their limbs, eyes, ears, and tongues from unlawful things.
Fasting ensures the unity of the Muslims. They fast and break their fast at the same time. They feel the pangs of hunger and eat together in a spirit of brotherhood, love and devotion. Fasting also atones for errors and wrong-doing. The Prophet (S) said, “From Jumu’ah to Jumu’ah, ‘Umrah to ‘Umrah, and Ramadan to Ramadan there is atonement for what occurred between them as long as no major sin was committed.”
From a physical point of view, fasting enhances bodily health. It gets rid of contaminated matter, eases the stomach, purifies the blood, eases the working of the heart, brightens the spirit, refines the soul, and disciplines the character. When an individu’al fasts, his soul is humbled, his ambitions are curbed, and his carnal desires are dispelled. Thus his prayers are answered because of his closeness to Allah.
There is a great secret in fasting: that is to worship Allah and seek His pleasure by submitting to His orders and surrendering to His laws by discarding for a prescribed time (i.e., between dawn and dusk) even one’s lawful desires, food and drink. Fasting therefore represents the victory of a Muslim over his desires. Whoever is unable to fast without any good reason will never master his self or overcome his desires.
The wisdom of fasting can thus be summarized as follows: that it instills piety and God consciousness, submission to Allah’s orders and subjugation of one’s desires. It ensures a triumph over self and the preparation of a Muslim for situations of sacrifice. It enables him to control his limbs, eyes, and ears. It ensures good health and atones for wrong-doing. It brings about togetherness, brotherhood, and a sense of empathy for those who are hungry, poor, and needy. And there are many more benefits. And Allah knows best.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
وَصَلَّ اللهُ عَلَى خيرِ خَلقِهِ مُحمَّدٍ وعَلَى آلِه وأصْحَابِه أجْمَعِين- بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين
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Some passages have been excerpted and paraphrased from the book “Thirty Lessons for Those Who Fast” by Aa’id Abdullah al-Qarni.
