Most of us who are fighting the battle of the bulge have experimented with some form of fasting, like an all fruit fast, a water fast or an sugar-free fast, you name it.\u00a0 But what many may find rather strange and intriguing is a whole nation of people; be it man or woman, old or young, rich or poor; going completely without food and drink from dawn to dusk for a whole month – Ramadan.\u00a0 What is the significance of Ramadan beyond shortened work hours?\u00a0 Is it not a very harsh practice?\u00a0 Is it merely a time when Muslims sleep and fast and hardly work all day; and eat, drink, enjoy and stay awake all night?\u00a0 What really is the spirit of Ramadan?<\/p>\n
Fasting Prescribed in All Religions<\/strong><\/p>\n In English \u201cfasting\u201d means to abstain from food or from certain kinds of food voluntarily, as an observance of a holy day or as a token of grief, sorrow, or repentance. [1]\u00a0 This practice can be found in most of the major religions of the world.\u00a0 For example, in Hinduism, fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa.\u00a0 Devout Hindus observe fasting on special occasions as a mark of respect to their personal gods or as a part of their penance.\u00a0 Most devout Indians fast regularly or on special occasions like festivals.\u00a0 On such days they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple food.[2]\u00a0 For Jews, the day Yom Kippur (\u201cDay of Atonement\u201d) is the last of the Ten Days of Repentance observed on the 10th of Tishri.\u00a0 It is forbidden on that day to eat, drink, wash, wear leather, or have sexual relations.\u00a0 In addition, prohibitions on labor similar to those on the Sabbath are in force.[3]\u00a0 It should also be noted that Moses (peace be upon him) is recorded in the Torah to have fasted.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights, he neither ate bread not drank water.\u201d (Exodus 34:28)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Levels of Fasting<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0The Ritual Level<\/strong><\/p>\n This level of fasting requires that the basic rules for fasting be fulfilled, which are avoiding food, drink and sexual intercourse between dawn and sunset for 29 or 30 days each year.\u00a0 On this level, one is basically following the letter of the laws regarding fasting without particular consideration for the spirit of fasting.\u00a0 It is the entrance level which must be fulfilled for the fast to be islamicly correct, but the other levels must be added for the fast to have any real impact on the fasting person. \u00a0Fasting on this level alone will not benefit one spiritually, except from the perspective of submission to divine instructions, if one chooses to follow the ritual consciously and not merely according to tradition.\u00a0 Thus, by itself, the ritual level will not purify one of sin or atone for sin.<\/p>\n The Physical Level<\/strong><\/p>\n Fasting on the \u201cphysical\u201d level causes the fasting person to experience the pangs of hunger and thirst when the prophetic (Sunnah) way of fasting is observed.\u00a0 Prophet Muhammad used to consume a very light meal before the dawn (suhoor) and moderate meal (iftaar) to break the fast at sunset, while scrupulously avoiding filling his stomach.\u00a0 He is reported to have said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst container a human being can fill is his stomach.\u00a0 A few morsels of food to keep a person\u2019s back straight are sufficient.\u00a0 However, if his desire overcomes him, then let him eat a third, drink a third and leave a third for breathing.\u201d (Ibn Majah)<\/p>\n The Prophet used to break his fast with a few fresh or dried dates and a glass of water just before beginning the sunset prayer. [5] This level allows the fasting person to experience the pangs of hunger and thirst and thereby develops sympathy in him or her for those starving and dying of thirst in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n Medical Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n On the physical level, some chemicals in the brain that transmit messages and create feelings, called neurotransmitters, are affected by fasting.\u00a0 Fasting encourages the endorphin neurotransmitter system, related to the feeling of well- being and euphoria, to produce more endorphins and, in fact, makes us \u201cfeel\u201d better.\u00a0 This is similar to the effect of exercise (but without the physical work).It has also been noted by medical experts that fasting improves the physical health in numerous ways. \u00a0For example, during the fast the body uses up stored cholesterol (fat) that is often deposited in the blood system, as well as in other fatty areas of the body.\u00a0 Thus, it helps to keep the body firm and minimizes the danger of heart attacks.\u00a0 The difference between the ritual level 1 and the physical level 2 is that a person dong only ritual fasting may eat large meals prior to beginning the fast and immediately upon ending the fast, and thus not feel any hunger or thirst throughout the whole month.\u00a0 However, like level one, if the fasting person does not incorporate the other levels of fasting, the fast will only be physically exhausting.\u00a0 The Prophet said:<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps a fasting person will gain nothing but hunger and thirst from fasting.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n (Ibn Majah)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Libidinal Level<\/strong><\/p>\n The sexual instinct and drives (libido) are harnessed on this level of fasting.\u00a0 In these times where the media continually plays on sexual desires to promote and sell products, the ability to control these powerful desires is a plus.\u00a0 Fasting physically reduces sexual desires and the fact that the fasting person has to avoid anything which could stimulate him psychologically helps to further lower the libido.\u00a0 Prophet Muhammad may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:<\/p>\n \u201cO youths, whoever among you is able to marry let him do so, for it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts.\u00a0 He who is unable to marry should fast, because it is a shield.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)<\/strong><\/p>\n By restraining oneself from sexual acts which are permissible, the fasting person makes it easier for himself to restrain himself from forbidden sexual acts when he is not fasting.<\/p>\n The Emotional Level<\/strong><\/p>\n Fasting on this level involves controlling the many negative emotions which simmer in the human mind and soul. \u00a0For example, among the most destructive emotions is anger.\u00a0 Fasting helps to bring this emotion under control.\u00a0 Prophet Muhammad said:<\/p>\n \u201cWhen one of you is fasting, he should abstain from indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an argument, he should simply tell him, \u2018I am fasting.\u2019\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)<\/strong><\/p>\n Thus, on this level, whatever negative emotions challenge the fasting person must be avoided.\u00a0 One must abstain from lewd conversation and heated arguments.\u00a0 Even when one is in the right, it is better to let that right go and keep one\u2019s emotional fast intact.\u00a0 Likewise, the negative emotion of jealousy is reduced, as every fasting person is reduced to the common denominator of abstinence; no one is externally superior to another in this regard.<\/p>\n The Psychological Level<\/strong><\/p>\n This level helps the fasting person psychologically to control evil thoughts and trains him or her, to some degree, how to overcome stinginess and greed.\u00a0 The Prophet was reported to have said:<\/p>\n \u201cAllah has no need for the hunger and the thirst of the person who does not restrain himself from telling lies and acting on them even while observing the fast.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)<\/strong><\/p>\n In this age of immediate gratification, when the things of the world are used to fulfill human needs and desires almost as soon as they have them the ability to delay gratification is an important skill.\u00a0 What is between immediate gratification and delayed gratification is patience.\u00a0 During the fast, the believers learn patience and the benefits of it.<\/p>\n From a psychological perspective, it is good to be somewhat detached from the things of the world.\u00a0 There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good and full life – in fact, one can and should expect that.\u00a0 However, it is important that people are able to detach ourselves from material things so that they do not become the most important part of their lives.\u00a0 Fasting gives one the opportunity to overcome the many addictions which have become a major part of modern life.\u00a0 Food, for many people, provides comfort and joy, and the ability to separate oneself from it gives the fasting people the psychological benefit of knowing that they do have some degree of control over what they do and what they do not do.<\/p>\n The Spiritual Level<\/strong><\/p>\n In order to establish this, the highest and most important level of fasting, the level of God-consciousness, Prophet Muhammad made the renewal of the intention for fasting a requirement before every day of fasting.\u00a0 He was reported to have said:<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever does not intend to fast before Fajr (the dawn) will have no fast.\u201d (Abu Dawud)<\/p>\n The daily renewal of intention helps to establish a spiritual foundation of sincerity essential for the spiritual cleansing effects of fasting to operate.\u00a0 Sincere fasting purifies and atones for sin, as the Prophet said:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWhoever fasts Ramadan out of sincere faith and seeking his reward from God, his previous sins will be forgiven.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He was also reported to have said, \u201cFrom one Ramadan to the next is atonement for the sins between them.\u201d\u00a0 Sincere fasting brings one closer to Allah and earns a special reward.\u00a0 The Prophet informed that there is a gate in paradise called Rayyaan reserved for those who fast and he also said:<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are open.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)<\/strong><\/p>\n Fasting is primarily between the person and God, as no one can be sure that any person is actually fasting.\u00a0 Because of this intimate aspect of fasting, Allah was quoted by the Prophet as saying:<\/p>\n