Ramadan Fasting — Why And How Is It Beneficial To Me Or Muslims

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam…

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ILLUMINATION

6 min readMay 12, 2020

Today, I saw some videos in You-tube where you-tubers were taking up the challenge of Ramadan fasting for a day or few. They were adults, in fact body builders and regular gym goers but they struggled with fasting for even a day. I am not mocking but I sincerely appreciate their efforts. I understand, fasting for fourteen hours straight without a drop of water or a grain of rice when the aroma of food and meat, and the sight of delicious food is constantly provoking one’s olfactory senses, is not so easy challenge. But…

Muslim men and women and even children do it at ease, in fact wait eagerly for the month of fasting.

I was spellbound when I saw a you-tube video from BBC News, where Muslim brothers and sisters fast for twenty hours a day in Iceland.

One of the brothers works in a restaurant, preparing and serving food for the customers while he starves for twenty-hour in a twenty-four-hour day.
Different varieties of food are just not enough to tempt him.

The interviewer asks that brother, “Don’t you feel hungry while you serve others.”
The brother replies with a smile, “It makes me hungry but my faith makes it easy to fast”

That’s the reason for their determination —

STRONG, UNSHAKABLE FAITH AND THE COMPLETE SUBMISSION OF THEIR WILL TO ONE CREATOR

The owner of their body, mind and and soul has commanded to fast —

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous
— Quran 2:183
“Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgement (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).”
— Quran,2:185

If eternal heaven is the reward for a 30-day fasting every year, who wouldn’t strive for it?

“When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”
— Bukhari
Abu Umaamah narrates:
I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah , tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise’. He said: ‘Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it.’ (Imam Nasai)

The above are beautiful verses in Quran, the holy scripture of Muslims and from Bukhari, the record of prophet’s practices, life-style and sayings.

Fasting is obligatory on each Muslim who has attained puberty.
Muslim means one who submits (his will) to God.

Fasting Builds In Will-power And Therefore Self-Discipline

I vividly remember, even when it was not obligatory on me, I started to fast the whole month of Ramadan since I was a nine-year-old in my fifth-matriculation-standard. None compelled me to. An unexplainable love was instilled in my mind for God. I am grateful to my family, next to my creator.

I had sports every day, running around the ground, playing co-co, tennikoit, and all girly sports. I would be sweating and panting, of course thirsty, but nah, never drank but I would frequently wash my face and even gargle just my mouth not up to throat. I admit, staying hungry had never been a problem then and even till date but thirst? Yes, during hot summer, it was a real challenge.

Thirst or hunger is a stimulus, desire to drink or to eat is an impulse. Stronger the stimulus stronger the impulse.

This is when one’s will power comes into play.

Will-power exerts restraint on one’s impulse or desire.

Ramadan fasting is not just staying away from food or water but fasting of eyes from seeing obscene and immoral things, fasting from alcohol or drugs or cigarettes or anything that is harmful, which are indeed prohibited in Islam even out of Ramadan, fasting from saying disrespectful or harmful words, fasting from doing immoral or immodest acts.

Ramadan is a training period of thirty days to control his desires through his exceptional will-power.

It is obvious, if one achieves this, he would attain success, no need to be admitted in rehabilitation centers.
Will-power brings with it, mental stability and strength.

Strength doesn’t come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will
— Mahatma Gandhi
Research shows that willpower is more important than IQ. That’s why the point isn’t to become smarter, but to become more self-disciplined.
― Adam Kirk Smith

My parents and grand-parents would share about my fasting to friends and relatives with pride and happiness.

Now as a mother, I understand their happiness. When my girl, just four-year-four-month-old says, “Mommy, I don’t need food. I am fasting” I smile. Well! But the reason she says that is when she dislikes the food, lol. Yet, I am happy she at least knew, what is fasting.

When she smells my or her dad’s bad breath accidentally, not willingly of course, she would say,”You smell fasting” She would never say, foul smell (that often happens due to dried oral cavity).

Because we taught her this hadith —

“(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.”
— Bukhari

Fasting Makes One Humble And Respectful Toward Others

The best of Muslims is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe
— Prophet Muhammad PBUH

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.”
— Muslim (Record of Prophet PBUH lifestyle and practices)

Ramadan fasting is not just staying away from food and water but to speak only good and hear only good. If one fears, he would harm by his word or action, he should remain silent.

Ramadan Fasting Has Potential To Cure Addiction

For obvious reasons.
The body, mind and soul is trained for thirty days of self-rehabilitation to restrain from all harmful addictions either of sight or taste or hearing.
Will power is strength.
Ramadan gives chance for an addicted person to know his own mental strength and determination.

Spiritual Purification

Every man is a sinner

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger PBUH said:
“All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.”
— At Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah ( Record of Life and practices of Muhammad Peace be upon him(PBUH))

No human can deny this truth.

Indeed, keeping check on worldly desires purifies soul of all evil whispers and temptations.
Desires for this temporary world obscures the eternal world.

Be in this world as if you are a stranger or traveler
— Prophet Muhammad PBUH

Fasting Relieved Me Of Chronic Back Pain

Personal experience

I would describe my back pain to family and friends as labor pain.
Yes! It really felt so.
Pain caused me stress and sleepless nights.
I would take pain killer combined with anti-inflammatory drug which would make me feel better.
How fasting helps cure pain is indeed a vast topic.
I would like to mention here just one finding that fasting reduces inflammation in the body.
Also the human growth hormone secretion is high in fasting hours, that helps improve recovery of cells and rejuvenation.
A lot more factors and findings…

Fasting is a life-saver. A relief from such horrible back pain is the greatest blessing of Ramadan for me.

Makes One A Philanthropist

1. Charity Will Give Shade on the Day of Judgment
The Prophet, said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.”

— Al-Tirmidhi

2. Seek Allah’s Pleasure with Charity
The Prophet PBUH said: “A crafty one, a miser, and one who keeps reminding people of what he has given, will not enter Paradise.”
— Al-Tirmidhi

3. It Protects one from Calamity
The Prophet, PBUH said: “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.”