Fasting:
A Divine Treatment For Body and Soul
by Adam Asar
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. Concerning the fast of Ramadan, the Qur'an declares: The month of Ramadan, is the month in which the Qur'an (began to be) sent down as a pure source of guidance for people, and, when practiced, as clear signs of guidance and the Criterion between truth and falsehood. Therefore, whoever is present during this month must fast and he who is so ill that he cannot fast or he who is on a journey must fast the same number of days on other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship for you, so that you can complete the number of the days required, and exalt God because He has guided you, and it is hoped that you may give the thanks due to Him. (Baqara 2:185) How does Hunger Accomplish What Abundance cannot? Human beings have both carnal and spiritual sides. The physical body of a human is comparatively small, but the soul is infinite, allowing them to embrace the whole universe. Human beings are not only material objects, a creature consisting of a stomach, nor do they only have a limited, cumbersome, simple, or transient corporal body. Human nature is so universal that in themselves human beings contain some aspect of all that exists in the universe. The countless tendencies, desires, feelings, dreams, thoughts, and ideas of humanity are like an index of the universe. God Almighty has ornamented the Earth with countless blessings and has given it to humanity, the vicegerent of God on Earth. Each day they receive lavishly prepared dining tables, one after another. Their sustenance is sent to them from the Heavens via the trees, each of which gives a different fruit in a different season of the year and the Earth nourishes them with every kind of delicious provisions. He has granted you all that you would ask of Him. Should you attempt to count God's blessings, you cannot calculate them. But humankind is innately inclined to extreme misjudgment and ingratitude. (Ibrahim 14:34) Both the Earth and the skies were created to serve humanity, and the main reason why human beings exist is to worship God, making worship a fundamental aim in itself. God Almighty says in the Qur'an: I have not created the jinn and humankind but to know and worship Me alone (Dhariyat 51:56). God, the most Gracious, gave us countless favors but unfortunately, for the most part we are unaware of and thus not thankful for these bounties. We are like a fish that is in the sea but unaware of the water as a blessing. One of the signs of a person being mature is the subjugation of the bestial characteristics of the brain and the soul. Human nature is difficult to deal with; it is sometimes excessive and sometimes regressive. Severe measures are sometimes needed to suppress the excesses. In this sense, it is very difficult to satisfy the carnal soul; the more you give the more it demands. The carnal soul continuously commands human beings to commit sins. According to a Qur'anic decree, the Prophet Joseph describes the carnal soul in the most eloquent way saying, I free not my own self of blame, for the human soul is certainly prone to evil, except to whom my Lord has granted His Mercy. Surely my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful (Yusuf 12:53). Repentance after committing sins and the redemption of sins through fasting strengthen the free will of humanity and purify the soul. Fasting is good for certain diseases such as stress related illnesses, Diabetes (although not advised if the patient is taking insulin), Hypertension, Migraine headaches, Chronic overweight and obesity, and Insomnia. The most important benefit of fasting is that it thoroughly cleans and purifies the bloodstream and reestablishes proper pH balance in the blood. Fasting Sharpens Mental & Physiological Awareness As the body cleanses and heals itself through fasting, keener mental concentration and clearer spiritual perception develop. As is known, the brain is the physical instrument of the mind. As the mucus and toxic waters are flushed from the brain, worries and frustrations leave the mind. It becomes free and clear; the creative powers expand. The memory becomes sharp and keen. Reciting the Qur'an more while fasting not only produces a tranquility of heart and mind, it also improves the memory. Fasting has been found to be an effective treatment for psychological and emotional disorders. It helps those fasting to firm up their will, cultivate and refine their taste and manners, strengthen their conviction of doing good, and avoid controversy, petulance and rashness, all of which contribute to a sane and healthy personality. Fasting also helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers. This feeling of inner peace and tranquility has positive effects on the psychology of the believers. In a tradition the Prophet said, "Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, they should avoid food and drink, sexual relations, and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with them, they should say, 'I am fasting.'"8 "Fasting is a shield" here has been interpreted to mean that a wall is built between a person and everything except God through the observation of the fast. The believers that make all their limbs and organs fast become more diligent and decent. They are even able to avoid those who upset them, saying, "I am fasting." This is the recommendation of the Prophet and is the main reason for the fall-off in the amount of crimes during Ramadan. To conclude, fasting not only purifies the mind and the spirit, but the body as well. Those who want to improve their spiritual faculties should observe the fast. In other words, those who do not fast become captives of their body and cannot renew their body and mind and excel their soul.
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