The Purpose of Fasting

Banu Salleh

Taqwa [Piety]

The Qur’an Says: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, in order that you may learn taqwa (piety)” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183).

Taqwa is a very significant spiritual and ethical term of the Qur’an. It is the sum total of all Islamic spirituality and ethics. It is a quality in a believer’s life that keeps him or her aware of Allah SWT all the time. A person who has the taqwa loves to do good deeds and avoid evil for the sake of Allah.

Taqwa is piety, righteousness and consciousness of Allah. Taqwa requires patience and perseverance.

Fasting teaches the believers patience, and with patience one can rise to the high position of taqwa.

Shield from Sins

The Prophet SAW said that fasting is a shield. It protects a person from sin and lustful desires.

Abu Hurairah reported Allah's Messenger SAW as saying: Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting! By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when he breaks the fast he is glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when he meets his Lord he is glad with his fast.[Muslim]

When the disciples of Jesus a.s asked him how to cast the evil spirits away, he is reported to have said, “But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21).

Quality Of Samadiyyah

According to Imam Al-Ghazali (d. 1111 C.E.), fasting produces a semblance of divine quality of samadiyyah (freedom from want) in a human being.

Moderation

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (d. 1350 C.E.), viewed fasting as a means of releasing the human spirit from the clutches of desire, thus allowing moderation to prevail in the carnal self.

Angelic elements

Imam Shah Waliullah Dahlawi (d. 1762 C.E.) viewed fasting as a means of weakening the bestial and reinforcing the angelic elements in human beings.

Self Restraint.

Maulana Mawdudi (d. 1979 C.E.) emphasized that fasting for a full month every year trains a person individually, and the Muslim community as a whole, in piety and self restraint.

©srikandeh