INTRODUCTION
Ramadan is not as is claimed by some: “Just skipping a meal like lunch”. There is much more to it, including a spiritual element (mentioned later in this response). Those who utter and spread such belittling statements are either a) ignorant of the teachings of Islam, in which case they are taught and then they retract after acknowledging their ignorance, or b) those who really know what the Ramadan fast entails but out of enmity, spite, rank hatred and jealousy seek to speak bad about it and attempt to undermine those who partake in it (and Islam in general) such as the likes of those who have an uncanny obsession with speaking evil against their former religion, with their unjust and dishonest accusations, mischievous machinations and fabrications.
WHAT FASTING ACTUALLY COMPRISES AND ENTAILS
Rather fasting in Ramadan is to refrain from the following between dawn to sunset each day for 29 or 30 days (as lunar month based):
– Food.
– Drink (which includes water, coffee and tea, etc.).
– Sexual intercourse.
– Smoking and vaping.
– Taking intoxicants and drugs.
– Lying, falsehood, vain speech and taking (unnecessary) oaths.
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said:
“Fasting isn’t merely withholding from food and drink alone, rather it is also withholding from lying, falsehood, vain speech and taking (unnecessary) oaths.”
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2/272.
Some of the things listed (top three) are fine outside of the fasting period like (halaal) food, drink and sexual intercourse (with ones spouse), whereas other things (the last three) are prohibited outside of the fasting period anyway.
It also involves waking up early to consume the suhur (pre-dawn meal) in which there are blessings.
THE PURPOSE AND WISDOM BEHIND FASTING
The purpose and wisdom behind fasting are summarised below:
• At-Taqwa (piety and righteousness).
• Acknowledging the extent of the blessings of Allaah upon His slaves.
• Accustoming and nurturing oneself upon patience and forbearance.
• The rich person realizes and acknowledges the severe need of the poor.
• Restricting the pathways of the Shaytaan.
• A dietary restriction from causes of excessive bodily waste and fluids.
• That which occurs before and after (the fast) by way of worship of Allaah, i.e. taking the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and Iftaar (breaking the fast) are acts of worship.
• Predominantly, those fasting spend (more) time engaging in worship.
• Conditioning the soul (to not have) arrogance and ingratitude.
• Reaching the level of Al-Ihsaan, which is that a person worships Allaah as though he sees Him, although we cannot see Him.
• The abundant reward that the fasting person obtains from fasting.
• Perfecting the (various) types of patience.
The first one, Taqwa, is the most important and based upon this clear verse in the Qur’an: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” [Al-Baqarah: 183] Above information taken from the booklet, 12 Wisdoms of Fasting by Abu ‘Inaayah Seif, OxfordSalafiDawah.
FASTING IN OTHER THAN RAMADAN
Islamic teachings state that Ramadan is not the only time Muslims are to fast, there are other recommended fasts (though not obligatory) which many millions of Muslims throughout the world carry out like:
• Six days in the month of Shawwal (the month after Ramadan).
• Day of Ashura – 10th of Muharram, which commemorates the day Allah saved Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and his followers from their adversaries (Pharaoh and his group)
• Arafah – 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Fasting this is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.
• Mondays and Thursdays, fasting these two days of the week is a tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but which you’ll find majority of Muslims nowadays not undertaking for whatever reasons.
SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED KNOWN HEALTH BENEFITS
In terms of being good for your health then one of the wisdoms is a dietary restriction from causes of excessive bodily waste and fluids which is why some people’s health improves by way of fasting because the (excessive) fluids that form into flocculent masses then leak and come out (of the body), since the body weakens and dehydrates (causing) these (excessive bodily) fluids to leak (and be expelled). And within this is a tremendous benefit for the body, and this is something that is observed (and witnessed). [Taken from 12 Wisdoms of Fasting booklet by Oxford Salafi Dawah]
There are other benefits backed up by scientific studies like promoting blood sugar control, better fight against inflammation, boosting brain function, aiding weight loss, among other benefits. Refer to the following article for example:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits
Regardless of the health benefits, the principal reason for Muslims fasting is to obtain and increase ones Taqwa (piety and righteousness) by drawing closer to God through increased acts of worship, good deeds, devotion and servitude as well as greater thankfulness, praise, gratitude, and humility to God.
Written by Abu Yahya Imran Rafiq, 1446/09/06AH, 06/03/2025.
