WHY DO MUSLIMS FAST?
A non muslim question which some of you may not be able to answer. It's mandatory on every Muslim to know why we fast.
Firstly: We Muslims fast the month of Ramadaan because Allah (SWT) has commanded us to do so. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (pious)"
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have mentioned some of the reasons why fasting is prescribed, all of which are characteristics of taqwa, but there is nothing wrong with quoting them here, to draw the attention of fasting people to them and make them keen to attain them.
1. Fasting makes us feel compassion & empathy towards the poor, because when the fasting person tastes the pain of hunger for a while, he remembers those who are in this situation all the time, so he will hasten to do acts of kindness to them and show compassion towards them. So fasting is a means of feeling empathy with the poor.
2. For fasting means giving up eating, drinking and intercourse, which are among the greatest pleasures. By giving them up for a short time, we begin to appreciate their value. Because the blessings of Allah are not recognized, but when you abstain from them, you begin to recognize them, so this motivates you to be grateful for them.
3. Fasting is a means of giving up haraam (forbidden) things, because if a person can give up halaal (acceptable) things in order to please Allah and for fear of His painful torment, then he will be more likely to refrain from haraam things. So fasting is a means of avoiding the things that Allah has forbidden.
4. Fasting enables us to control our desires, because when a person is full his desires grow, but if he is hungry then his desire becomes weak. Hence the Prophet (pbuh) said:
"O young men! Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and protecting one's chastity. Whoever cannot do that, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him."
5. Fasting humiliates and weakens the Shaytaan; it weakens the effects of his whispers (waswaas) on a person and reduces his sins. That is because the Shaytaan "flows through the son of Adam like blood" as the Prophet (pbuh) said, but fasting narrows the passages through which the Shaytaan flows, so his influence grows less.
6. The fasting person is training himself to remember that Allah is always watching, so he gives up the things that he desires even though he is able to take them, because he knows that Allah can see him.
7. Fasting means developing an attitude of asceticism towards this world and its desires, and seeking that which is with Allah.
8. It makes the Muslim get used to doing a great deal of acts of worship, because the fasting person usually does more acts of worship and gets used to that. These are some of the reasons why fasting is enjoined. We ask Allah to help us to achieve them and to worship Him properly. Ameen !
Most of us will not be able to give proper reply when a non muslim asks why do we fast ? The wisdom behind the fasting. So here is the perfect reply you can give to your non muslim friends. Please share.
Allah chose the month of Ramadan to reveal His Final Message as a guidance and mercy to all of mankind; and subsequently Allah commanded the believers to fast the whole month of Ramadan, as a sign of gratitude to Allah Subhanah; and thus made it a way or course to develop piety and obedience in ourselves through this training for one month of the year.
Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood.
Therefore, from now on, whosoever witnesses it, it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month. But if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days (of the year).
Because this is the month in which Allah chose to reveal the Holy Quran, and this is also the month in which Allah commanded the believers to fast; the month of Ramadan has become a Sacred and Holy month for the believers, and considered better than the other months of the year.
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