Fasting
- From: "Faris Jawad" <ana_faris_bila_jawad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:41:13 -0400
Fasting
Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. It entails abstaining from food,
drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the intention of
attaining nearness to Allah. It is obligatory every day throughout the lunar
month of Ramadan.
Fasting in the religions of the past:
Fasting was a religious obligation for the followers of the religions before
Islam, though its form may have been different. Allah says:
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for
those who came before you that perhaps you might be God fearing."
The effects of fasting:
1. It develops willpower. In this way, it trains the Muslim to rise up to
the challenges of life. It gives the individual the ability to control his
or her desires. It teaches patience; because the fasting person must give up
pleasures that he or she is normally accustomed to enjoying.
2. Fasting is a way of recognizing the blessings of Allah that surround the
individual. Allah says:
"If you try to count the blessings of Allah, you will never be able do so."
Most of the time, people forget these numerous blessings, never remembering
them unless they are lost. Fasting provides a reminder of these blessings
throughout the fasting person's life.
3. Fasting reminds people of the suffering of those who are deprived,
affording those who have means a glimpse of the hardships and hunger
suffered by the poor. This makes the well off more likely to want to help
the poor.
4. Fasting is healthy. It provides rest for the digestive system. It
cultivates the habit of eating less. It also provides the body relief from
the harmful habits the fasting person might have, like addiction to
narcotics, stimulants, and possibly other forbidden things.
5. Fasting provides an opportunity for complete devotion to Allah. Fasting
is a perfect example of total submission to Allah and fear of Allah alone.
The reason for this is that fasting is not witnessed by anyone except Allah
himself. The person gives up all physical desires for the whole day
exclusively to seek Allah's pleasure. Allah's Messenger (may the peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) related that Allah said:
"Every action of the descendants of Adam is for them except for fasting; it
is for me and I will reward it."
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