Ramadan: A Tradition of Fasting

Ramadan this year started on 21st of July for most of North American Muslims. Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam and Ramadan is the month of Fasting as prescribed for Muslims in the Quran which states:“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. (2:184)

This verse tells us the importance of fasting in an effort to become righteous or a good human being, but it also tells us that Fasting is not only the domain of the Muslims of this world. In fact, this revelation more than 1400 years ago, to a man who had no basis of claiming this, unless he had personal knowledge or a computer to look up all the religions of the world present and past, proves its divine nature.

According to Wikipedia:“Fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom since pre-history. It is mentioned in the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Qur'an, the Mahabharata, and the Upanishads. Fasting is also practiced in many other religious traditions and spiritual practices.”

The present day Encyclopedia Britannica online has also mentioned numerousreligions including several religions, among the aborigines of North and South America, that carry the institution of fasting.

As Ahmadi Muslims we believe that there is one source for all divine communications with human beings and thus we can find some common themes running through all religions of the world. So, fasting is no exception and this institution is present in all religions, whether practiced or not by their adherents today.

The physical benefits of fasting are not lost on anybody who lives in this world of "weight watchers" and "biggest losers". The month long fasting from dawn till dusk helps to rid the body of the toxic build up of the previous year. The other benefit is that of self control. Muslims are told to control how they behave with others during this month for they can lose the benefits of their fast if they do not employ self control in every aspect of their lives and interactions with others. It includes control over your tongue (no cursing), hands (no hitting), feet (no kicking), and emotions (no anger or thoughts of sexual nature). In fact Muslims are enjoined to increase their alms-giving and charity work, so you not only don’t harm those around you but go a step further and try to benefit others. I am not saying that all Muslims become model citizens during Ramadan; however a majority tries to go through their day well cognizant of what’s required of them; whether they succeed or not is specific to the individual.  It is also a great tool for giving up smoking or addiction to caffeine.

In conclusion I would invite the skeptics to try fasting and try to follow the rules of fasting as prescribed by the Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and find out for themselves not only the physical benefits of fasting but also the spiritual benefits. If nothing else it may help bridge the widening gulf between the different peoples of the world.