The Benefits of Fasting

In the legal terminology of Islam, the institution of fasting signifies abstinence from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn till sunset. The fast of Ramadan is one of the five pillars on which the structure of Islam stands. Before the dawn of Islam, the Quraish tribe in Arabia used to observe a fast in the 10th month known as Muharram, when they used to enshroud the Ka'bah with a covering cloth.   After arriving in Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) found the Jews also fasting that day which was known as the fast of A'shura. When enquiring about it from them, the Prophet (SAW) was told that A'shura was the day on which Allah had delivered the Children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh and that Moses (Moosa) used to keep fast on that day as an expression of gratitude to the Almighty. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H .) thereupon remarked that Moses (Moosa) had a greater claim upon them and accordingly observed fast that day and advised his companions to do the same. In the second year after the Prophet had settled in Madinah, the command for fasting was revealed and the month of Ramadan was set apart for this purpose. The fast on the 10th month of Muharram was then made optional, although Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) himself never missed it; and the fast over the three days in this period was abolished. Benefits of Fasting Include: It teaches man the principle of sincere love. It equips man with a creative sense of hope and an optimistic outlook on life. It imbues man with a genuine virtue of effective devotion, honest dedication and closeness to God. It cultivates in man a vigilant and sound conscience. It is an effective lesson in applied moderation and willpower. It provides man with a transparent soul to transcend, a clear mind to think and a light body to move and act. It shows man a new way of wise savings and sound budgeting. It enables man to master the art of adaptability; we can only understand this point if one realizes that fasting makes man the entire course of his daily life. It grounds man in discipline and healthy survival. It originates in man the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, of equality before God as before the law. It is a Godly prescription for self-assurance and self-control for maintenance of human dignity and freedom, for victory and peace. The Holy Qu'ran says: ‘O ye who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you.’ Fasting Before the revelation of the Holy Qu'ran, fasting was observed in various modes with different notions associated with it and all the revealed religions. Prophet Jesus also recommended fasting to his disciples in these words: ‘When you fast, be not as hypocrites of a sad countenance...but thou, when you fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face.’ (Matthew 6:16-17). Fasting in Islam was instituted solely as a means of development of piety (Taqwa) in man. There are many facets of piety (taqwa) which are cultivated through fasting. The spiritual benefits of fasting would no doubt accrue to man only according to his awareness of the real objectiveness thereof and his conscious effort to reform himself. Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu

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