Why Do Muslims Fast?

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In Eastern spirituality fasting has both a physical and a spiritual side. Physical fast involves refraining oneself from consuming certain types of food and reducing the amount of food allowed to be consumed. The spiritual fast implies the spiritualization of the human being by avoiding hollow thoughts, facts that are against moral laws, inappropriate words. Both physical and spiritual fast create the proper conditions that lead to spiritual and bodily health. The purpose of fasting is the spiritual ascension, the bodily health being only a side effect of the ascetic endeavors of the human being. A person can only be declared healthy if both his/her soul and his body are in good health. Of course, the medical aspects of fasting should not be forgotten either, the Christian having the duty of properly taking care of his body, by not neglecting or disregarding it. Having a dichotomous nature, the human being must be concerned with the soul, but also with the body, fasting being the means by which the soul manages to dominate the passionate impulses of the body. Fasting has an important religious-moral value, it is a welcome act to God, a means of removing passions and sins, an instrument of lust control, a separation from the materialism of the present world. Fasting is a way to acquire the moral order within society, being a means of Christian philanthropy, an instrument of helping people, a way through which society can progress.

All praise is due to Allah, and may He grant peace and blessings upon His Last Messenger Muhammad (salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

Jurnal Studi Agama (JSA), 2022

Fasting is one of the religious practices or rituals or worship that can be found in almost every religious tradition, including the Christian and Islamic religious traditions. Several scholars of religious studies, through various research, claim that fasting has been practiced thousands of years ago by various religious adherents in the world and persists to this day. This study attempts to describe the teachings and practices of fasting in Christianity and Islam and then provides an analysis of the similarities and differences in the implementation of these teachings in the context of Indonesia. This study is library research in the sense that this study will rely on books and scientific journals related to this topic as primary data sources. This study found that the practice of fasting in Christianity and Islam each has its meaning and has its uniqueness, and characteristics. For example, they have their meaning about the purpose of fasting, the arguments they use for fasting, the types of fasting, and the procedures for fasting. This study argues that religious teachings, both Christianity and Islam, are dynamic, multi-interpretative, and contextual by exploring these issues.

Hamdard Islamicus, 2016

Though the ritual of fasting is common to most of the known religious traditions, its practice and symbolic value may vary considerably. This paper aims to compare the meaning and significance of this ritual with special reference to the three Semitic religions, namely, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Some exciting similarities and dissimilarities in this connection are noted. It is discerned that fasting is often observed in these religions to commemorate certain events of religious significance during specific days of the year. Moreover, feasts and festivals that occur before or after various fasting periods in the selected religious traditions remind us of this ritual's social significance. However, sometimes fasting also signifies the spontaneous individual expression of thankfulness to or repentance before God. It is observed that fasting in these religions is envisioned to facilitate self-control, invoke mercy and sympathy for others, create a sense of bondage, establish and assert religious identities, and release negative feelings like guilt consciousness. In the final analysis, it is maintained that fasting does not necessarily imply the negation of the body or society as a form of asceticism. Instead, by facilitating self-control and freedom from one's inner fears and other emotional weaknesses, it can also lead to a more resounding affirmation of the self and greater integration into society.

Satya Widya: Jurnal Studi Agama, 2022

Fasting is one of the religious practices or rituals/worship found in almost every religious tradition, including the Christian and Islamic religious traditions. Several scholars of religious studies, through various research, claim that fasting was practiced thousands of years ago by various religious adherents in the world and persists to this day. This study attempts to describe the teachings and practices of fasting in Christianity and Islam and then provides an analysis of the similarities and differences in implementing these teachings in the context of Indonesia. This study is library research in the sense that this study will rely on books and scientific journals related to this topic as primary data sources. This study found that the practice of fasting in Christianity and Islam each has its meaning, uniqueness, and characteristics. For example, they have their meaning about the purpose of fasting, the arguments they use for fasting, the types of fasting, and the procedures. Furthermore, this study argues that religious teachings, both Christianity and Islam, are dynamic, multi-interpretative, and contextual.

IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 2018

The obligatory fasting of Ramadan is not only an Islamic ritual to enhance the God-consciousness (called Taqwa), it may also lead to improvement of health status of fasting person(s). In other words, it is a complete overhauling instrument of Muslims soul/body in terms of faith and health. This can be termed as “Islamic fasting: a combination of spiritual elevation and prevention of diseases”. During fasting Muslims try to maintain integrity of the human body both physically and spiritually. It not only keeps us healthy physically/spiritually but also makes us healthy in social obligations. Furthermore, with full devotion it brings long-lasting changes in the individual’s life and relate to the level of righteousness and strength of character to resist desires. In health fasting plays an important role, for example the improvement of hyperlipidemia, obesity (fat loss), diabetes, cognition, cell functions, immunological factors, inflammation, stress and lifespan etc. This article is ...

Quran and Medicine, 2013

Context: Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will be cautious (Surah Al-Baghara, 183). The holy Prophet (SAW) also stated: "Fast and stay healthy". Islamic fast is an exquisite and especial method for proper planning to develop mental and physical health in fasting person. Fasting for a month, especially in the holy Ramadan, is the specific model for twelve month of life that can insure the health of fasting person for one year, because researches show that biological clock of the brain needs to be adjusted, annually. According to the holy Quran introductions and the traditions of holy Prophet, the biological clock of the brain should be adjusted within this month, since in this holy month the doors of God`s mercy are open to his servants, and implying the specific model in this month may cause physiological and psychological coordination. Hence, biological clock of the brain will be adjusted by fasting and energy turns the light of physical and mental health for the next eleven months. Evidences Acquisitions: Reports over the last decade show that any change in the lifestyle of patient can accelerate the treatment progress. Results: Although Islamic fasting is not in available in all religions, the principle of fasting exists in all religions which represents the domination of documented procedures on the human nature. Results of the current study showed that Islamic fast can be considered as the best model to improve physical health and relaxation; and reduction of crimes and violations in this month is derived from the relaxation that is naturally resulted from the adjusted basis of physiological and psychological homeostasis. Conclusions: Personal and psychological arrangements can play an important role to adjust strong homeostasis in the physiological systems. This stable procedure or homeostasis helps physiological procedures to be stable and integrated even if any problems occur, and physiological stability cannot be replaced easily by pathologic factors; hereby the illness is prevented. Regulating the release of brain neurotransmitters, hormones secretion, and metabolic processes are the most important achievements of Islamic fasting that result in mental and physical health.

The Muslim Reader, 2022

Sawm or fasting is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Sawm means to abstain. It was prescribed upon Muslims in the month of Sha’ban , around 18 months after hijra (emigration to Medina), and not ordained during the first years of Islam in Makkah. The month of Ramadan (the 9th month in the Islamic calendar) is the time designated for fasting and Muslims fast every year during Ramadan. In a very literal sense, fasting is to refrain from eating, drinking or even from actions such as speaking. In Islam, it means to abstain (with the intention to fast) from eating, drinking and sexual gratification from dawn until sunset. There are many good books and courses about the “rules” and essential elements of fasting, and this article does not wish to replicate those rules. Instead, this article is about certain aspects of fasting generally that are beyond the cardinal rules, including the virtues of fasting generally, days recommended for fasting, the fast of the silence and i’tikaf (or spiritual retreat or seclusion).

Journal of Fasting And Health, 2015

Fasting is a form of Islamic worship to approach God. There is a direct relationship between fasting, abstaining from eating and drinking, and an individual’s health as well as his ill-health. Therefore, it is of utmost importance in the Islamic perspective to weigh the spiritual benefits achieved through fasting against its probable harmfulness to an individual’s health. Regarding fasting, the Islamic perspective is based on spiritual and social goals whose achievement centers around fasting according to the Islamic principles. But, in medicine, fasting is merely dealt with abstaining from eating and drinking which is regarded as one aspect of this Islamic ritual. Additionally, the concept of harmfulness is defined as making a defect or disorder occurring in the body, the recognition of which is within the responsibility of medicine and the decision about which is within the responsibility of an individual. Medical science can determine the effects and consequences of thirst and hu...

Book The Message of the Glorious Qur'an the Greatest Book on Earth, 2022

Abstract Fasting also known as abstinence, means different things to different group. To some, it's ordinarily abstinence from eating and drinking. Others sees it as, abstinence from eating, drinking, and all sexually related activities. Irrespective of one's perspective, fasting in Islām is considered as an act of worship which goes beyond eating and drinking. It also, involves, abstinence from sexually related activities, intoxicant and all unethical behaviour from sunrise to sunset. This is why it's referred to in the Qur'ān as Ṣiyām (pl.) and not ṣawm. It's an established principle in Islām that must be carried out for either 29 or 30 days annually in the 9th month (Ramaḍān) of Islāmic lunar calendar. The paper is library based, descriptive and historical in methodology. It x-rays various definitions of fasting, appraises the universality of fasting. It will also examine various types and kinds of fasting in Islām and x-rays why fasting in some days are considered as forbidden. The objectives of fasting as well as its significance to the heath of man shall also be discussed. It also recommends commitment of Muslims as well as non-Muslims to inculcate the habit of fasting at least once in a week or month due to the enormous spiritual and health benefits in fasting. Keywords: Fasting, Ṣawm, Ṣiyām, Ordained, Qur’ān, Greatest God