Faith and Worship
Fasting
Learning Outcomes:
After reading this lesson, students will be able to:
Get to know the purpose and philosophy of fasting in the light of Qur'an
and Sunnah.
Understand the importance and virtue of fasting.
Understand the spiritual, physical and social benefits of fasting.
In the month of Ramadan, physical and financial worship, especially the
recitation of the Holy Qur'an, Qiyaam Al-Il, Taraweeh, Shab Qadr, I'tikaf,
breaking the fast, and charity can extinguish the virtues.
Be able to evaluate the outward and inward effects of fasting (piety,
purity, discipline, self-restraint, self-sacrifice) in practical life. Be able to
fast with complete manners and become pious in practical life.
In the month of Ramadan, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, may become familiar with the routines of Ahl al-Bayt At’har
and His ﷺCompanions, may Allah be pleased with them, and make
them a part of practical life.
In the month of Ramadan, physical worship, almsgiving and charity,
selflessness and grief can be demonstrated in practice.
Fasting is of primary importance in Islam. In the Qur'an and Hadith, the
word " "صومor " "صیامis used for fasting, which literally means to
abstain. In Shariah, the worship in which a Muslim abstains from food,
drink and legitimate desires from true dawn to sunset for the sake of
Allah, is called "Soom" means fasting. It became obligatory in 2nd year of
hijrah. Allah says:
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you
so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.
(Al-Baqarah 183)
The first purpose of fasting which is piety and becoming mindful of
Allah has been mentioned in the ayah. Apart from traveling and illness,
fasting is obligatory on every sane, mature Muslim man and woman. As
the purpose of fasting is to achieve piety, therefore, stopping from
eating and drinking is not all that is required but to prevent all the parts
of the body from disobeying Allah is also a part of fasting.
The Prophet ﷺsaid: If anyone does not abandon falsehood and
action is accordance with it, Allah has no need that he should
abandon his food and drink. (Sunan Abu Dawood 2362)
The time of suhoor (pre-dawn meal) ends with the true dawn and the
time of iftar (evening meal) begins when the time of Maghrib prayer.
There have been many virtues of doing suhoor and iftar. The Holy
Prophet said to do suhoor as there is a blessing in doing suhoor.
It is also a great virtue to give food to others for fasting.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: He who gives food for a fasting
person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him,
except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward."
[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi , Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh].
As the revelation of the Holy Qur'an took place in Lailatul-Qadr,
therefore in this month the goodness and blessings of every deed
increases. Allah Almighty has declared this night better than a thousand
months. Holy Prophet ﷺhas been ordered to search for it by
worshiping in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (may
peace be upon him) as saying: Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of
Ramadan).
(Muslim 2618)
During Ramadan, Muslims recite the Holy Quran and receive blessings.
While performing the Taraweeh prayer, they listens to the recitation of
the Holy Quran the entire month under the leadership of expert reciters
and huffaz.
In the last ten days of Ramadan, Muslims perform the Sunnah of itikaaf.
Itikaf means to be in isolation in a Masjid or at home with the intention of
solely dedicating your time to the worship of Allah (SWT). In the blessed
month of Ramadan, seeing the Holy Prophet ﷺ, the Companions of
the Prophet( ﷺmay Allah be pleased with him) would also bow down
in worship. The pure wives of the Prophetﷺ, the mothers of Muslims
used to observe fasts with Him ﷺin the household and also used to
perform itikaaf. Hazrat Abu Huraira RA narrated that the Holy Prophet
ﷺused to perform itikaaf for ten days every year in Ramadan.
Benefits and Effects of Fasting:
1-Health benefits: While fasting brings spiritual benefits like peace of
mind and patience, the stomach rests for a whole month due to less
food. Due to which a person is protected from various diseases.
2- Social Benefits: To receive the blessings of fasting, people pay Zakat
and charity, which fulfills the needs of the poor and others in need.
3-Discipline: Suhoor and Iftar at the appointed time teaches a person
to observe discipline.
4-Character Building: Fasting instills in Muslims the qualities of piety
and abstinence, physical and spiritual purity and selflessness. In the
state of fasting, the hunger and thirst of others is assessed and feelings
of sympathy arise with them.
5-Spiritual benefits: Due to fasting, an atmosphere of goodness and
piety is created, due to which Muslims love to worship and get spiritual
satisfaction.
We should organize a lot of charity in Ramadan so that the needy and
poor people of the society can be helped and they can also share in the
happiness of Eid-ul-Fitr. We should pray a lot in Ramadan so that we can
please Allah Almighty and ask for His forgiveness so we can achieve
success in this world and the hereafter. We should continue the rituals
of Ramadan throughout the year.
Exercise
1-Choose the correct answer:
(i)According to the Holy Quran, the most important purpose of fasting
is:
(a) Attainment of piety
(b) Sympathy for others
(c) Abundance of charity
(d) Assistance to poor people
(ii)That fast is not acceptable in the sight of Allah Ta'ala:
(a) Which includes falsehood and obscenity;
(b) In which suhoor is not performed
(c) In which charity is not performed
(d) In which one should not eat or go on a full stomach
(iii) Being hungry and thirsty during Ramadan creates emotions in a
person:
(a) Of sympathy
(b) Toleration
(c) Of forgiveness
(d) Of selflessness
(iv)Having Suhr and Iftar at the appointed time creates attributes in a
person:
(a) Of patience
(b) Of Persistence
(c) Of Discipline
(d) Of mercy
(v) Being hungry and thirsty during Ramadan makes a person aware of
others:
(a) Hunger and thirst
(b) Financial distress
(c) Physical labour
(d) Self-esteem
2- Give a short answer:
(i) Write down the meaning and significance of fasting.
(ii) What are the effects of fasting on human health?
(iii) How does fasting teach a person about punctuality and discipline?
(iv) What are the financial acts of worship performed in Ramadan?
Answer: Zakat al-Fitr, Almsgiving (Zakat)
(V) Mention any two social benefits of fasting
3- Answer in detail:
(i) Write the importance and virtue of fasting in the light of Quran and
Sunnah.
(ii) State the benefits and effects of fasting.
For further reading:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/38064/why-do-muslims-fast
https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/muslim/006_smt.html
https://www.minhaj.org/english//tid/2954/Quranic-Verses-and-Hadith-
on-the-Month-of-Ramadan-and-Fasting.html
https://islamqa.info/en/articles/69/all-about-zakat-al-fitr
