The spiritual benefits of fasting during Ramadan

For Muslims, fasting is an act of worship that goes beyond simply abstaining from food and drink. Fasting offers a range of spiritual benefits and, when done correctly, brings one closer to God. In particular, Muslims fast during Ramadan as an act of obedience, as well as gratitude, for it is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed.

شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِىۡٓ اُنۡزِلَ فِيۡهِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡهُدٰى وَالۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَنۡ شَهِدَ مِنۡكُمُ الشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَـصُمۡهُ ؕ وَمَنۡ کَانَ مَرِيۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنۡ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَؕ يُرِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ بِکُمُ الۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ

It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So, any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful.

[2:185] 

يٰٓـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الصِّيَامُ کَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَۙ

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you — as it was for those before you — so perhaps you will become mindful [of God].

[2:183]

In the Holy Qur’an, God declares that fasting and gratitude are intertwined. Physical acts of worship like fasting (berpuasa) and hajj are an expression of gratitude for bodily blessings, such as good health, and the ability to walk, talk, sleep, etc.

By feeling hunger, Muslims living comfortably feel immensely grateful that we have food to break our fast with, and that, for most of the year, we are free to eat whenever we like.

However, the fact that even Muslims in need are required to fast means that this cannot be the only wisdom behind fasting.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “One might fast but he gets nothing from his fast except hunger. One might pray at night, but he gets nothing from his prayer except fatigue.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah)  

This indicates that hunger in and of itself isn’t virtuous. Instead, what is truly meaningful is obeying God and fasting in the complete sense of the word – keeping one’s limbs free from sin and abstaining from all things which God dislikes. This includes:

• Guarding your tongue from backbiting, gossiping, as well as keeping your ears safe from hearing these sins of the tongue.
• Refraining from getting angry.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Fasting is a shield; so, when one of you is fasting, he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am fasting, I am fasting!”

(Muslim)

• Lowering your gaze (refraining from looking lustfully).

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “‘The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive from Him a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.”

(Ahmad)

• breaking your fast with food earned in a halal (lawful) manner.

Fasting (berpuasa) is a powerful shield between the fasting person and bad deeds. Ramadan also provides us with opportunities to earn compounded rewards, for example by feeding a fasting person.

None of us know if we will live to see another Ramadan, so let’s make the most of this blessed month and strive to fast with ihsan (excellence).

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