Fasting
is not unique to the Muslims. It has been practiced for centuries in
connection with religious ceremonies by Christians, Jews,
Confucianists, Hindus, Taoists, and Jains. God mentions this fact in
the Quran:
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
develop God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183)
Some Native American societies fasted to avert catastrophe or to serve as penance for sin.
Native North Americans held tribal fasts to avert threatening disasters. The Native Americans of Mexico and
the Incas of Peru observed penitential fasts to appease their gods.
Past nations of the Old World, such as the Assyrians and the
Babylonians, observed fasting as a form of penance. Jews observe
fasting as a form of penitence and purification annually on the Day of
Atonement or Yom Kippur. On this day neither food nor drink is
permitted.
Early
Christians associated fasting with penitence and purification. During
the first two centuries of its existence, the Christian church
established fasting as a voluntary preparation for receiving the
sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism and for the ordination of
priests. Later, these fasts were made obligatory, as others days were
subsequently added. In the 6th century, the Lenten fast was expanded
to 40 days, on each of which only one meal was permitted. After the
Reformation, fasting was retained by most Protestant churches and was
made optional in some cases. Stricter Protestants, however, condemned
not only the festivals of the church, but its traditional fasts as well.
In
the Roman Catholic Church, fasting may involve partial abstinence from
food and drink or total abstinence. The Roman Catholic days of fasting
are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the United States, fasting is
observed mostly by Episcopalians and Lutherans among Protestants, by
Orthodox and Conservative Jews, and by Roman Catholics.
Fasting
took another form in the West: the hunger strike, a form of fasting,
which in modern times has become a political weapon after being
popularized by Mohandas Gandhi, leader of the struggle for India’s
freedom, who undertook fasts to compel his followers to obey his
precept of nonviolence.
Islam is the only religion that has retained the outward and spiritual dimensions of fasting throughout centuries.
Selfish motives and desires of the base self alienate a man from his
Creator. The most unruly human emotions are pride, avarice, gluttony,
lust, envy, and anger. These emotions by their nature are not easy to
control, thus a person must strive hard to discipline them. Muslims fast to purify their soul, it puts a bridle on the most uncontrolled, savage human emotions.
People have gone to two extremes with regard to them. Some let these
emotions steer their life which lead to barbarism among the ancients,
and crass materialism of consumer cultures in modern times. Others
tried to deprive themselves completely of these human traits, which in
turn led to monasticism.
The fourth Pillar of Islam, the Fast of Ramadan, occurs once each year during the 9th lunar month, the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which:
“…the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people.” (Quran 2:185)
God in His infinite mercy has exempt the ill, travelers, and others who are unable from fasting Ramadan.
Fasting
helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of
God’s gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived. Fasting in
Islam involves abstaining from all bodily pleasures between dawn and
sunset. Not only is food forbidden, but also any sexual activity. All
things which are regarded as prohibited is even more so in this month,
due to its sacredness..
Each
and every moment during the fast, a person suppresses their passions
and desires in loving obedience to God. This consciousness of duty and
the spirit of patience helps in strengthening our faith. Fasting helps
a person gain self-control. A person who abstains from permissible
things like food and drink is likely to feel conscious of his sins. A
heightened sense of spirituality helps break the habits of lying,
staring with lust at the opposite sex, gossiping, and wasting time.
Staying hungry and thirsty for just a day’s portion makes one feel the
misery of the 800 million who go hungry or the one in ten households in
the US, for example, that are living with hunger or are at risk of
hunger. After all, why would anyone care about starvation if one has
never felt its pangs oneself? One can see why Ramadan is also a month of charity and giving.
At dusk, the fast is broken with a light meal popularly referred to as iftaar.
Families and friends share a special late evening meal together, often
including special foods and sweets served only at this time of the
year.
Many
go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by special prayers
recited only during Ramadan. Some will recite the entire Quran as a
special act of piety, and public recitations of the Quran can be heard
throughout the evening.
Families rise before dawn to take their first meal of the day, which sustains them until sunset.
Near the end of Ramadan Muslims commemorate the “Night of Power” when
the Quran was revealed. The month of Ramadan ends with one of the two
major Islamic celebrations, the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,
called Eid al-Fitr. On this day, Muslims joyfully celebrate the
completion of Ramadan and customarily distribute gifts to children.
Muslims are also obliged to help the poor join in the spirit of
relaxation and enjoyment by distributing zakat-ul-fitr, a special and
obligatory act of charity in the form of staple foodstuff, in order
that all may enjoy the general euphoria of the day
is not unique to the Muslims. It has been practiced for centuries in
connection with religious ceremonies by Christians, Jews,
Confucianists, Hindus, Taoists, and Jains. God mentions this fact in
the Quran:
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
develop God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183)
Some Native American societies fasted to avert catastrophe or to serve as penance for sin.
Native North Americans held tribal fasts to avert threatening disasters. The Native Americans of Mexico and
the Incas of Peru observed penitential fasts to appease their gods.
Past nations of the Old World, such as the Assyrians and the
Babylonians, observed fasting as a form of penance. Jews observe
fasting as a form of penitence and purification annually on the Day of
Atonement or Yom Kippur. On this day neither food nor drink is
permitted.
Early
Christians associated fasting with penitence and purification. During
the first two centuries of its existence, the Christian church
established fasting as a voluntary preparation for receiving the
sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism and for the ordination of
priests. Later, these fasts were made obligatory, as others days were
subsequently added. In the 6th century, the Lenten fast was expanded
to 40 days, on each of which only one meal was permitted. After the
Reformation, fasting was retained by most Protestant churches and was
made optional in some cases. Stricter Protestants, however, condemned
not only the festivals of the church, but its traditional fasts as well.
In
the Roman Catholic Church, fasting may involve partial abstinence from
food and drink or total abstinence. The Roman Catholic days of fasting
are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the United States, fasting is
observed mostly by Episcopalians and Lutherans among Protestants, by
Orthodox and Conservative Jews, and by Roman Catholics.
Fasting
took another form in the West: the hunger strike, a form of fasting,
which in modern times has become a political weapon after being
popularized by Mohandas Gandhi, leader of the struggle for India’s
freedom, who undertook fasts to compel his followers to obey his
precept of nonviolence.
Islam is the only religion that has retained the outward and spiritual dimensions of fasting throughout centuries.
Selfish motives and desires of the base self alienate a man from his
Creator. The most unruly human emotions are pride, avarice, gluttony,
lust, envy, and anger. These emotions by their nature are not easy to
control, thus a person must strive hard to discipline them. Muslims fast to purify their soul, it puts a bridle on the most uncontrolled, savage human emotions.
People have gone to two extremes with regard to them. Some let these
emotions steer their life which lead to barbarism among the ancients,
and crass materialism of consumer cultures in modern times. Others
tried to deprive themselves completely of these human traits, which in
turn led to monasticism.
The fourth Pillar of Islam, the Fast of Ramadan, occurs once each year during the 9th lunar month, the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which:
“…the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people.” (Quran 2:185)
God in His infinite mercy has exempt the ill, travelers, and others who are unable from fasting Ramadan.
Fasting
helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of
God’s gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived. Fasting in
Islam involves abstaining from all bodily pleasures between dawn and
sunset. Not only is food forbidden, but also any sexual activity. All
things which are regarded as prohibited is even more so in this month,
due to its sacredness..
Each
and every moment during the fast, a person suppresses their passions
and desires in loving obedience to God. This consciousness of duty and
the spirit of patience helps in strengthening our faith. Fasting helps
a person gain self-control. A person who abstains from permissible
things like food and drink is likely to feel conscious of his sins. A
heightened sense of spirituality helps break the habits of lying,
staring with lust at the opposite sex, gossiping, and wasting time.
Staying hungry and thirsty for just a day’s portion makes one feel the
misery of the 800 million who go hungry or the one in ten households in
the US, for example, that are living with hunger or are at risk of
hunger. After all, why would anyone care about starvation if one has
never felt its pangs oneself? One can see why Ramadan is also a month of charity and giving.
At dusk, the fast is broken with a light meal popularly referred to as iftaar.
Families and friends share a special late evening meal together, often
including special foods and sweets served only at this time of the
year.
Many
go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by special prayers
recited only during Ramadan. Some will recite the entire Quran as a
special act of piety, and public recitations of the Quran can be heard
throughout the evening.
Families rise before dawn to take their first meal of the day, which sustains them until sunset.
Near the end of Ramadan Muslims commemorate the “Night of Power” when
the Quran was revealed. The month of Ramadan ends with one of the two
major Islamic celebrations, the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,
called Eid al-Fitr. On this day, Muslims joyfully celebrate the
completion of Ramadan and customarily distribute gifts to children.
Muslims are also obliged to help the poor join in the spirit of
relaxation and enjoyment by distributing zakat-ul-fitr, a special and
obligatory act of charity in the form of staple foodstuff, in order
that all may enjoy the general euphoria of the day
