[Class title]
Islamic Fasting
Introduction
Fasting is a term used to denote the age old practice of abstaining from food. In general, it is defined as the conscious or willing abstention from all or some foods for a certain period of time. Scholars believe that fasting is an ancient practice that has been observed in the earliest history of human civilization and is universal in scope. Fasting, for instance, has been observed in the culture of Native Americans as well as in the natives of New Guinea and in almost every culture and civilizations around the globe (Piper 31). Fasting has also been observed for a variety of reasons. People, for instance, fast because of health reasons or as a form of protest (Piper 30). But the most compelling reason why people fast is due to religious reasons. Almost all religious organizations of the world observe fasting. Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism are just a few examples of major religions that practice fasting. Each of these religions has their own interpretation and way of observing fasting as based on their religious belief. In Islam, fasting is not only an optional practice, but rather a tradition that is zealously observed. But why is fasting significant in Islam and how is it properly observed? These are the questions that the paper will attempt to answer in order to understand the practice of fasting in Islam.
Fasting or ‘saum’ is one of the major pillars of Islam (Corn 11). Unlike in many religions wherein fasting is just a personal choice, in Islam, fasting is not only necessary, but also a compulsory activity that every adult Muslims in good health should do during the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is the most significant month for Muslim believers. As stated in the Quran, “Ramadan is the month wherein the Quran was revealed for the guidance of mankind and to serve as the criterion of right and wrong”. Because of the significance of Ramadan, Muslims are urged to ‘fast it’ with the exception of those who are sick or on a journey who “shall fast an equal number of days later on”. According to Muslim scholars, the fast of Ramadan has undergone three stages of development. The first stage was when the prophet Muhammad prescribes that Muslims should fast at a certain month in a given number of days. Originally, Muslims were not required to fast when they first came to Medina. However, the prophet Muhammad adopted the fast of the Day of Ashoura and also advised other Muslims to fast on it. Later on, in the second year of the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad established the fast of Ramadan and prescribed that all Muslims should fast it . The second stage of the development of fasting in Islam was when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. In the Quran, it was Allah, himself, who instructed all able bodied Muslims to fast during Ramadan. As stated in the book of Quran, “O believers! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you may become more conscious of God”. At this point, fasting has developed from a voluntary practice to an obligatory practice among Muslims. The third stage was the relaxation of previous fasting rules that caused some problems to the observers. The rules of fasting, for instance, require that a man should abstain from eating, drinking and having sex with his wife after saying his last evening prayers. If a man sleeps without saying his prayer, he must continue his abstinence when he wakes up. According to observers, this condition was hard for the early Muslims. They were, however, overjoyed when the prophet Muhammad later revealed that Allah has permitted them to eat, drink and have sex with their wives on the night of the fast “until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread, then observe the fast till nightfall”.
Why do Muslims Fast?
Muslims believe that the significance of fasting lies not on the act of abstinence itself, but on its ability to draw them closer to Allah. According to Islamic scholars, “it is said that fasting brings about spiritual fulfillment and that in the month of fasting, goods are multiplied many times” (Corn 11). It should be noted that Ramadan is a month for worshipping Allah because it is believed that it was during this month when the Quran was revealed. Fasting is a way of showing a deep religious devotion to Allah and to humble one’s self in the presence of Allah. Muslims believe that when they fast, “they realize best how weak they are, how fragile the human body is, how needy they are and how dependent on so many things that they don’t even think of usually” (Corn 11). This experience makes a Muslim closer to Allah by realizing how dependent a person is to the benevolence of his maker. It is believed that fasting allows a person to experience ‘tawhid,’ which, according to scholars, is the gist of the Muslim faith (Corn 11). The tawhid, for instance, does not just refer to the belief that God is only one, but refers to the notion that God alone should be worshipped and loved because of his perfect attributes (Corn 11). By fasting, Muslims believe that they experience the perfection of God’s benevolence, which makes them worship God more. Fasting is also a way of atoning for past sins. According to Islamic traditions, it was the prophet Muhammad himself who said that whoever believes in Allah and observes the fast during the month of Ramadan, will be forgiven of his past sins. In fact, when asked what the best deed is, the prophet Muhammad replied that it is fasting because, according to him, “there is nothing equal to it”. The prophet Muhammad was also noted for saying that during Ramadan, “the portals of Paradise are opened, the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained”. Fasting is also a time for self-reflection. The fast of Ramadan, for instance, is the time wherein Muslims give up their bad habits and behaviors such as smoking, lusts, slander, obscene speech and the likes.
Rules for Fasting
Muslims observe obligatory fasting during Ramadan, during atonement and when taking a vow. On the other hand, voluntarily fasting is also observed in days other than the month of Ramadan, “which the Prophet used to observe as fasting days”. In the observance of the fast, there are certain rules that need to be observed in order for it to become acceptable and valid. According to Muslim authorities, the fast has two essential elements and these are the intention and the proper observance of the fast. In order for the fast to be valid and acceptable, one must have the intention to fast as well as to avoid things that would nullify the fast. The fast of Ramadan starts before dawn and ends during sunset. For the whole duration of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking or having sexual intercourse within the appointed time of the day. In order for the fast to become effective, it is prescribed that Muslims should eat one meal before sunrise also known as the suhuur or the pre-dawn meal. Another meal, known as the ‘iftar,’ is taken right after sunset. The food taken in the sunset, however, is not focused on eating, but rather on worshipping. As observed by religious scholars, “in the month of fasting, every evening is a feast,” but this feast is “centered on worship rather than food” (Corn, 2006, p.12). The fast will become invalid when people engage in intentional eating, drinking or having sexual intercourse. In the case of having sexual intercourse while fasting, the individual who commits such mistake should fast continuously for sixty days or if he is unable to do so, he must feed sixty poor people. The fast of the day also becomes invalid for women when they have their menstrual cycle or if they have childbirth bleeding. Such days must be made up in a later time, which is equal to the number of days that she missed because of her bleeding. Sick and travelling individuals as well as pregnant and nursing women are also exempted from fasting, provided that they would make up by fasting an equal number of days that they missed during Ramadan. Children who have not yet reacher puberty are also exempted from fasting as well as those people who are in their old age. The fasting period of the Ramadan ends with the breaking of the fast or the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr. This occasion is celebrated with prayers and glorification as well as with food and merry making. In breaking fast, it is recommended that the individual’s first meal should be “an odd number of fresh or dry dates, and if those are not available, then having a drink of water would be sufficient”.
Conclusion
Fasting is an important religious practice in Islam primarily because it was performed by the prophet Muhammad and is commanded by Allah, himself. Muslims are required to fast at a certain time of the year, most especially during the month of Ramadan to commemorate the revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad. In Islam, fasting is observed by abstaining from food, drinks and sex from the break of dawn until the sunset. However, fasting is not performed just to punish the body by abstaining from food, water and sex, but rather as a religious observance whose focus is to worship and glorify Allah. If observed with the right intention and procedure, fasting brings about the atonement of an individual’s past sins as well as brings him closer to Allah.
Works Cited
Corn, K. Fasting and Feasting in Three Traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. 2006. April 2016 <http://eip.uindy.edu/crossings/publications/Interfaith%20Conversations-1.pdf>.
El-Bahay El-Kholi. Al-Siyam "Fasting". n.d. April 2016 <http://www.islamicbulletin.org/free_downloads/ramadan/al_siyam.pdf>.
Fasting in Islam. n.d. March 2016 <http://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_fasting_in_Islam.pdf>.
The Islamic Association of Raleigh. Rules of the Fasting of Ramadan. n.d. April 2016 <http://raleighmasjid.org/imam/fiqh-ramadan.html>.
