The Rationale of Fasting  

Verse 183 of Surah Al-Baqarah, which was revealed during the month of Shaban in 2 Hijri, states:

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may acquire self-restraint and remain conscious of Allah.”(Ref: Qur’an 2:183)

Hence, fasting is not a ‘new decree’ from Allah(SWT) but just like prayer (salat), fasting was ordained as an obligation on nations before. Why was fasting made obligatory? The reason stated is that so that you may attain Taqwa (righteousness). The simplest meaning of Taqwa is to avoid sinful activities and prohibited actions. This is meant to train those who have faith to keep their strong ‘Nafs’ (ego) in check and to coach them to control themselves. The Qur’an has mentioned three types of the ‘Nafs’ (ego): (1) Nasf-e-Ammarah (mentioned in Surah Yusuf), the kind that pushes humans towards doing sinful actions and entreats him to do evil. (2) Nafs-e-Lawwamah: The one that reprimands him (like conscience) after he has committed a sin and due to this those who have committed sins repent and ask for forgiveness. (3)  Nafs-e-Mutmainnah: The kind of people who remain contented and gratified under all circumstances. Their Nafs, in other words, is in their control. This is the inner voice of the conscience of the believers. They remain content with the predestined, i.e., they are content with whatever Allah(SWT) is pleased with, in joy and in sorrow, in suffering, sickness and in poverty. These pious slaves of Allah(SWT) comprise Prophets(AS) and Messengers of Allah(AS), and those on the righteous path (Mutaqeen) and their Nafs is in their control. These pious souls stay away from sins due to the fear of Allah(SWT) and that is called Taqwa. It is stated in verse 46 of Surah Ar-Rahman:

“But for he who has feared the position of his Lord or feared standing before Him are two gardens” (Ref: Qur’an 55:46)

It is mentioned in verse 2 of Surah Al-Baqarah, “هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ”, meaning “a guidance for those who fear Allah” (Ref: Qur’an 2:2). In other words, guidance is for those who make the effort to please Allah(SWT). They strive to get the ‘attention’ of Allah(SWT) and for that to happen it is imperative that he ought to focus less on worldly gains and focus more on pleasing Allah(SWT). How true is the saying, “If Allah’s(SWT) decree is to ‘give up’ (something) and it is easy (for the person) to give that up then it is a sign of the love for Allah(SWT), but if it is difficult (for the person) to give that up then it is a sign of love for the world.”

The same Lord of the Worlds – Allah(SWT) has prescribed fasting for us. So that a believer might bear and endure hunger and thirst, and avoid the urges of carnal desires and exaggerated baser instincts as well as all those actions prohibited by Allah(SWT). So that by fasting a strong force of self-restraint and willpower may be created in us and we may remain steadfast on ‘Taqwa’ (the fear of AllahSWT) and be righteous. Therefore, fasting is not a training for one day or a month but encompasses the entire life. So that we could mould our habits into that required by Allah(SWT). Therefore, in the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad(SAAW), the meaning of ‘Sawm’ (fasting) is to ‘stop or halt’ – i.e., not making the ‘Nafs’ a slave of worldly desires and exaggerated baser instincts, but making the latter subservient to the former.

Iqbal has said very aptly:

A heathen gets distinct by getting lost in life and cosmos;

Whereas a true Muslim keeps above its brawl and strife (i.e. physical cosmos is submerged in the vast expanse of his selfhood)

A Muslim keeps away from eating, drinking and fulfilling sexual desires from dawn (almost coinciding with the time when Fajr starts) through dusk (the time of the setting of the sun and Maghrib), while fasting. The month of Ramadan comes every year. Sometimes, when Ramadan coincides with the months of May, June or July, it is extremely hot in many parts of the world. However as eating and drinking are prohibited from dawn through dusk, even if the thirst feels like a cactus inside the throat, but in order to be eligible for Paradise and to avoid the torments of Hellfire, Muslims around the world keep Fast with enthusiasm, zeal and like a special event.

The Holy Prophet(SAAW) is reported to have said:

• The first ten days of Ramadan are the days for attaining the Mercy and Blessing of Almighty Allah(SWT);
• The second ten days are for repenting the sins and seeking Allah’s(SWT) forgiveness; and
• The third ten days are for seeking safety and freedom from the Hellfire.

The holy month of Ramadan is the ‘spring season’ for accumulating good deeds and reaping rewards.According to the meaning of a hadith, Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede on the behalf of such Muslims on the Day of Judgement, who fast during day and stand for the night prayers, reciting or listening to the Quran, during the holy month of Ramadan. Therefore, we ought to grab this golden opportunity to repent for our sins, strengthen our bond with Allah(SWT) and make every possible effort to secure the pleasure of Allah (SWT).

Ref: An excerpt from the English translation of the Book عظمتِ صوم byDr Israr Ahmad (RAA); “The Spiritual Excellence of Ramadan” [Translation of the Booklet by Shahnaz Ikram; Edited by the English Section of Tanzeem e Islami]