Setting the goal for fasting
by Sayed Anwar AliThe third pillar of Islam is the Sawm, that is, fasting during the month of Ramadhan. The Qur’an makes fasting obligatory for the believers and says, “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety”. [2: 183]. The Qur’an further says, “Whoever of you is present in that month, he shall fast therein”. [2: 185]
Fasting means complete abstinence from eating drinking, smoking and indulgence in sex from dawn until dusk. According to the traditions of the messenger (saw), one should have some sort of food before dawn in order to sustain the rigors of hunger and thirst.
Purpose
As mentioned, the Qur’an says that fasting has been ordained so that you may become pious. The goal of fasting therefore is for the human being to learn to shun wrongdoing. Fasting in Islam, as such, does not simply mean abstaining from food but, in addition to this abstaining from every kind of wrongdoing.
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Piety
The purpose of fasting is to gain piety, which means to fear Allah alone. The Qur’an repeatedly tells the believers to fear Allah. It says,
“O people, be pious towards He Who created you from a single being” [4: 1] and
“Be pious. Surely He is severe in requiting wrongdoing”. [5:2] and
“whoever fears Allah alone and acts aright shall have no fear, nor shall he grieve”. [7: 35]
Piety is the most affective and strongest possible check against wrongdoing. A pious Muslim will instinctively shun all conceivable moral lapses affecting his person or society at large, be it theft or robbery, rape or adultery and the like. He will neither abuse nor fight, neither commit murder nor deprive anybody or their property, will not give or take bribes or draw upon unlawful gains. This is because he fears that he will have no excuse before Allah on the Day when he will have to ultimately stand before Allah to account for his deeds. Thus, piety is the foundation of morality, which is essential for the maintenance and tranquility. Piety is fostered by prescribed fasting. It insures the ultimate well-being of society.
Humanity
Fasting also makes people realize the hardship others face from the lack of sustenance. Only those who themselves undergo the hunger and thirst can understand the miseries of those who, in spite of labour, are not able to meet their basic needs. This naturally induces people to help others in need and to abstain from hoarding wealth. Fasting creates a sense of humanity in people and teaches them to be mindful of those who are oppressed.
Uniformity
Fasting establishes a unique and singular type of uniformity between all the believers through out the world in the timing of when to eat and drink. And to abstain from doing so at certain times. It appears as if the entire world of believers on earth is but one family.
Sincerity
Fasting is also a real test of the sincerity, of devotion and obedience to Allah. When believers keep the fast and abstain from eating, drinking and other things prohibited by Allah, only Allah knows whether they are actually doing so or not. It all depends upon the truthfulness of the person himself. Fasting is in fact something like an undeclared bond between the human beings and Allah, and it is for this reason that Allah says that ‘fasting is for Me and I give reward for it.’
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Remedy against Evil
Fasting strengthens the heart against wrongdoing. When one can abstain from all that is otherwise lawful and permissible, merely because Allah orders one to abstain from it during a particular time, there is no doubt that he can quite easily and readily abstain from wrongdoing and what is forbidden by Allah at all other times as well!
Struggle in the way of Allah
Fasting along with the discipline and spirit of obedience teaches and prepares a person for the greater struggle in the way of Allah (jihad al-akbar). The willingness to bear the hardships of hunger and thirst and restraining from lust and desires from wrongdoing which fasting creates, are ultimately the basis for the greater struggle in the way of Allah. The purpose is to establish peace, tranquility and social justice in human society wherein everybody should have equal rights and liberties without the least disturbance to others.
Achievements of the purpose
The real purpose underlying the fasting, however, can only be achieved when one inculcates in oneself the fear of Allah or piety, when one does what Allah wishes one to do and abstains from that Allah forbids. The messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) says that “when one does not give up telling lies and acting upon falsehood, Allah does not need their fasting”, He also says that “there are people who fast but do not achieve anything except hunger and thirst”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
This Ramadhan every Muslim who wants to achieve the goals of fasting should plan carefully and judge his or her development in the light of the above.
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