The month of Ramadhan is almost over and millions of Muslims all over the world will soon celebrate with joy and exuberance, the end of another month-long sacrifice of fasting as enjoined by Allah (subhanahu wa ta ‘ala [swt] – the Most Glorious and Most High) when He revealed:

 “Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.  
(Qur’an, 2:185).

         Fasting, the fourth of the five pillars of Islam, is a very difficult task because it entails abstaining from all food and drink from dawn till dusk for a whole period of 29 or 30 days. It also involves the performance of nightly prayers in addition to the five daily prayers, reading of the Holy Qur’an, controlling one’s emotions and desires and refraining from doing anything bad or evil. While fasting is quite tough and demanding, Allah (swt) tells us in the above verse that fasting is not meant to put a hardship on anyone. Allah (swt) does not gain anything from putting His servants under difficulties. However, He knows what is best for everyone and commands them to carry out various forms of worship such as daily prayers, fasting and pilgrimage to Mecca, which while difficult to perform are actually beneficial for man, spiritually and physically. Fasting during the whole month of Ramadhan involves great sacrifice, patience and endurance. However, it provides tremendous spiritual and physical benefits to those who adhere to it with sincerity and devotion.

         As revealed in the Holy Qur’an, Allah (swt) made fasting obligatory to believers in order that they may learn self-restraint: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, - (Qur’an, 2:183).  Man is born with innate desires which are not evil per se. However Satan arouses the lower desires in man in order to lead him to do evil deeds and bring him to the pit of self-destruction and annihilation. Aside from the daily prayers which bring man nearer to Allah (swt) and remind him of Allah’s guidance and instructions for righteousness, fasting trains man in controlling his lower desires and selfish impulses. Fasting promotes a strong will, develops patience and self-discipline and the ability to bear hunger and thirst and other forms of hardship. It trains the body to submit to lofty spiritual goals.

 
        Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam [saw] – peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting’ ”. Fasting is therefore a tool for developing excellent morals and supreme virtues. It teaches the believer to renounce vices, to control emotions and lower instincts, to restrain the tongue against sinful or inappropriate remarks and the mind against contemplating upon wrongdoing.

        The Prophet (saw) further said: “One who, while fasting, neither guards his tongue from telling lies nor refrains from doing bad deeds does not respect his fast, while Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food... When you fast, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be boisterous or noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you, do not respond to him in the same manner; rather, simply tell him that you are fasting.” (Hadith, Bukhari)

        Fasting promotes the spirit of unity among members of the fasting community and develops among them the excellent virtue of humility. It instills in them the feeling of equality before Allah (swt) because fasting is obligatory on everybody whether rich or poor, man or woman, powerful or weak, influential or downtrodden. Ramadhan is the month of charity and generosity. Fasting in Ramadhan therefore promotes the spirit of charity and compassion towards the poor and the needy, and reminds each believer to share his blessings with his less fortunate brothers and sisters.    
 
        Ramadhan is a very special month, so much so that the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed as Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."  Ramadhan is full of Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and blessings. Another great spiritual benefit of fasting is therefore Allah’s promise of forgiveness of sins as revealed in the following Hadith (saying) of the Prophet (saw).

"Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

        Through fasting, the believer expresses his sincere and firm desire to obey Allah (swt) and carry out His commandments to please Him, thus strengthening his ties with his Creator. In view of this, Allah (swt) promises great rewards to those who perform fasting as revealed in these Hadiths:

"Allah (swt) says about the fasting person, 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times’."  (Hadith, Bukhari)

"There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."  (Hadith, Bukhari)

"Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' ‘By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting." ."  (Hadith, Bukhari)

        A Muslim observes fasting mainly as a religious obligation to develop in him excellent morals and virtues which will profit him not only in this fleeting life but especially in the eternal life.  However, fasting does not only provide a Muslim spiritual benefits but health benefits as well. The power of fasting has been acknowledged even by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine. He believed the practice allowed the body to heal itself. Fasting is actually one of the oldest known medical practices used to treat all types of ailments and is therefore a widespread practice not only in Islam but in other religions and the medical field. An article I came across in the Internet by Health Insider, explains how fasting, a practice that denies the body of food can be good for the body as quoted below:

1. Fasting gives the digestive system a break from its work of breaking down foods and combating the toxins caused by the highly processed foods that make up the majority of man’s modern diets. Since the body is not using energy in the digestive process, this energy can be used for other purposes such as allowing the body to heal itself. Also, since the body's immune system is not busy fighting of bacteria and other toxins that enter the body through the foods we eat, the immune system can concentrate on healing various diseases and sicknesses in the body.

2.  Detoxification is one of the most obvious health benefits of fasting. Not only does it allow cells to rid themselves of harmful toxins, and dead or diseased tissue, but it can also rejuvenate the internal organs, allowing them to work more efficiently. Some doctors also claim fasting can help cure diseases such as cancer, lupus, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure and allergies.

3. In addition to the detoxification benefits of fasting, this practice can also be used as a way to lose weight quickly and can leave a person feeling more energized and more physically fit than before.

        Fasting during Ramadhan, which some people may think of or consider as a meaningless and useless exercise and may be detrimental to health, is actually beneficial to the body to detoxify it of various toxins, give the digestive system much needed break and give a person renewed energy and physical strength.  It is also for this health reason that in Islam, voluntary fasting on a regular basis in addition to the obligatory fasting in Ramadhan is highly recommended for believers. Allah (swt) who is the only One who knows what is best for His creatures, commands only what is good and beneficial for mankind regardless of the hardships or sacrifices these prescribed laws entail. Man only need to reflect on Allah’s wisdom behind His laws to enable him to adhere to Divine decrees with strong faith, sincerity and devotion.

        May Allah’s blessings, forgiveness and mercy be with us all during this holy month and may the hardships and sacrifices we endured to please Allah (swt) help us to be better Muslims not only during Ramadhan but through all the years to come (amen).

Happy Idul Fitri to all Muslim brothers and sisters.

EID MUBARAK

1 SYAWAL 1428H

MINAL AIZIN WAL FAIZIN