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1. What is fasting?
- A unique duty among the five great duties of Islam; a training camp that forms people who submit completely to God.
| Explanation | |
|---|---|
| Arabic word | Sawm (الصوم); plural – siyam (الصيام) |
| Literal meaning | Abstaining, refraining |
| Islamic usage | A Muslim, with the sincere intention of doing it for Allah, abstaining from permitted things such as eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn (when the east grows light) until sunset |
- Fasting is a compulsory duty that cannot be avoided.
- The imams regard leaving a fast in Ramadan without a valid reason as a grave sin.
2. Fasting is obligatory – evidence from the Quran
- (2:183) – meaning: It has been prescribed for you as it was for those before you, so that you may become God-conscious.
- (2:185) – meaning: It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was sent down as guidance for mankind, clear proofs, and the criterion between right and wrong. Whoever witnesses the month must fast. The sick person / the traveller must make it up on other days. Allah wants ease for you, not hardship.
The purpose of fasting (2:183) = taqwa (God-consciousness).
3. The virtues of fasting (5)
| No. | Virtue | Essence of the hadith | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It will intercede in the Hereafter | Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant: fasting – "I kept him from food and desires by day"; the Quran – "I kept him from sleep at night"; both intercessions will be accepted | Ahmad |
| 2 | Forgiveness and expiation | Whoever fasts Ramadan with iman and hoping for the reward will have his past sins forgiven | Bukhari, Muslim |
| 3 | Reward without measure | Each good deed is rewarded ten to seven hundred times, except fasting – it is for Me, and I Myself give its reward; he gives up his desire and his food for My sake (Hadith Qudsi) | Bukhari, Muslim |
| 4 | Happiness in both worlds | The fasting person has two joys: when he breaks his fast, and when he meets his Lord | Bukhari, Muslim |
| 5 | A special gate in Paradise | A gate called "ar-Rayyan" (الريان) – only those who fast enter through it; the call goes out, "Where are those who fasted?"; once they have entered, it is closed | Bukhari, Muslim |
4. The benefits of fasting (5)
(1) Spiritual growth
Ramadan = a month with an atmosphere for growing spiritually. In that month:
- The gates of Paradise are opened; Paradise is adorned
- The gates of Hell are closed
- The devils are chained
- The angels ask forgiveness for those who fast
- The du'a of those who fast is accepted
- The night better than a thousand months (Laylat al-Qadr) is in this month
- Freedom from Hell is granted
→ Those who use this atmosphere recite more Quran, make more dhikr, worship at night, give charity, look after their relatives, and focus on tawbah.
Training in patience
- Every day, for about fourteen (14) hours, a person goes without food and drink and keeps away from desires; this continues for a month → a long training in patience.
- (Ibn Majah) – meaning: "Fasting in the month of patience and fasting three days every month removes the fire (anger, envy) in the heart."
(2) Realising the value of blessings
- When we enjoy blessings all the time we do not realise their value; fasting, by holding them back, makes us realise their value and moves us to be grateful.
(3) Understanding the suffering of the poor
- Fasting has been made obligatory on everyone, rich and poor alike → the wealthy understand the pain of hunger from experience.
- Yusuf (AS) is reported to have fasted a great deal while serving as Egypt's minister of finance; the reason (meaning): "I fear that if I eat my fill, I will forget the hunger of the poor."
(4) Physical health
- The medical world says fasting helps greatly in curing some illnesses.
- (Saying – meaning): "Fast, and you will be healthy."
The Tamil source quotes this saying as a hadith without naming a collection. Hadith scholars generally regard this narration as weak (da'if) – confirm with the teacher before quoting it as a hadith.
(5) Training in complete submission to God
- A long field training to build the habit of accepting God's commands in every situation of life.
Our predecessors regarded the time of fasting as a rare opportunity to advance on the road to Paradise; fasting gave them God-consciousness, physical strength and noble qualities.
5. Key Arabic terms
| Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| الصوم (sawm) | Fasting (abstaining) |
| الصيام (siyam) | Fasts (plural) |
| رمضان (Ramadan) | The month of fasting |
| الريان (ar-Rayyan) | The gate of Paradise for those who fast |
Quick revision
- Sawm = abstaining; plural siyam; from dawn until sunset.
- 2:183 – the purpose is taqwa; 2:185 – the Quran revealed in Ramadan; allowance for the sick and the traveller.
- Virtues: it will intercede (Ahmad); past sins forgiven; "it is for Me"; two joys; the gate of ar-Rayyan.
- Benefits: spiritual growth (14-hour training in patience), realising blessings, understanding the poor (Yusuf AS), health, complete submission.