Fasting and Ramadhan

11:59 - 2022/04/08

The holy month of Ramadan is here to remind us of the thirst and hunger on the Day of Judgment, and to prepare Muslims for a better life hereafter, and to test them in terms of obedience, servitude and worship of Almighty God, and to test piety of the believers.

Fasting and Ramadhan

Fasting, one of the most important acts of worship in Islam

Both in the Qur'anic verses and in the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (as), along with prayers and other acts of worship, considerable attention has been paid to fasting in general and in the month of Ramadhan in particular, so much so that if one cannot fast in Ramadhan, it must be performed at some other time, and one will not be released of this duty unless he or she performs it.

Ramadhan is known as the most blessed month in Islam. This month is also known as the month of God's feast. Fasting literally means to abstain from something. The reason why fasting is obligatory is stated in this verse: "O you that believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those who were before you." [1] After commanding Muslims to fast, Almighty God declares the philosophy and benefits of fasting by saying: "so that you might become righteous". [2]

Fasting protects the individual and society from evil and corruption and creates the basis for the individual's self-control. Certainly fasting is a shield against evil and corruption. When one fasts, aside from abstaining from eating and drinking, he should abstain from lying, gossipping and slandering. He should keep his eyes and ears from what is forbidden and should seek God's satisfaction. By doing so, he tries to excercise piety and please God with the goal of attaining proximity to Him. Certainly, when a person excercises piety and protects himself from evil of the self, the society will also be protected from evil. This self abstaining can be achieved by abstaining from eating and drinking and evil conduct in the month of Ramadhan. That is why the verse says, "so that you might become righteous".

In addition to the spiritual benefit of piety, fasting has other benefits as well. It has a social effect: fasting teaches equality. By carrying out this religious act, the rich realize the plight of the hungry and the needy, and this encourages them to help those in need. Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) says, “Fasting was maded mandatory because it brings equality between the poor and the rich by making the rich experience hunger and encouraging them to do justice to the poor; Because the rich usually have everything they want. God wants equality among His servants by giving the rich a taste of hunger and suffering so that they may have mercy on the needy and hungry."

Health effects: the cause of many diseases is the excessive consumption of different foods; Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him and his family) said, "The stomach is the home of all pain and fasting is the best of all medicines."

Other Effects of Fasting According to Narrations

The messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family) is reported to have said, "If the servant of "God" knew what the month of Ramadhan is [what a blessing there is in this month], he would like the whole year to be Ramadhan." [3] Heaven's gates open on the first night of Ramadhan and do not close until the last night of this month. [4] The prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family) said, "The prayers of a fasting man will not be rejected."

He is also reported to have said, "Ramadhan is called Ramadhan because it takes away sins." [5] According to another narration he said, "Do not say: Ramadhan; for Ramadhan is one of the names of Almighty God, but say: Ramadhan". [6] And lanstly, he is quoted to have said, "A person who has not been forgiven during Ramadhan, in which month will he be forgiven?!" [7]

References:
[1] Holy Quran, 2:183.
[2] Holy Quran, 2:183.
[3] Bihar alanwar, vol. 93, p. 346.
[4] Bihar alanwar, vol. 96, p. 344.
[5] Mizan al-Hikma, narration 7441.
[6] Mizan al-Hikma, narration 7442.
[7] Mizan al-Hikma, narration 7459.

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