2. The Wisdom and Philosophy of Fasting in Ramadan
Fasting has profound wisdom and great benefits, some of which are outlined below:
A: Fasting as a Means to Attain Taqwa
One of the fundamental objectives and key wisdoms of fasting is achieving Taqwa (piety) and complete certainty in faith. When a person refrains from permissible and lawful matters for the sake of attaining Allah’s pleasure and out of fear of His punishment, they will, even more so, abstain from prohibited acts. Thus, fasting leads to Taqwa, as Allah says: ”يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ” Translation: “O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may become righteous.”
Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, in his commentary on this verse, remarks on the wisdom and impact of fasting on Taqwa: “Some have said:” «تَتَّقُونَ» (“That you may become righteous.”) Some have interpreted this to mean that you may become weak; for the less you eat, the weaker your desires become, and as desires decrease, sin decreases as well. [In this way, a person attains Taqwa.] This is a metaphorical and insightful interpretation. Others have said: «لتتقوا المعاصی» This conveys the idea that the purpose is to avoid sins, and it is suggested that this phrase is general, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: «الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَوِجَاءٌ» (“Fasting is a shield and a means of controlling desires.”) This itself is a cause for Taqwa, as fasting weakens and suppresses desires.
Alimah Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, also writes in his commentary on this verse: «لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ» signifies the obligation of fasting, explaining its great benefit and wisdom. Fasting prepares the soul of the fasting person for Allah-consciousness; when a person refrains from permissible pleasures, which are easily available to them—with the intention of obeying Allah—they train their willpower and gain self-control. This enables them to avoid prohibited actions and remain steadfast in performing acts of worship and good deeds.
Previous religions and beliefs, including those of idolaters and the People of the Book, viewed fasting as a means to calm divine wrath or seek the help of gods. They believed that punishing the body and suppressing desires was a way to gain the favor of the gods. However, Islam views fasting as a means of education, purification, and the attainment of the happiness that comes from taqwa.
Alimah Muhammad Rashid Rida references this erroneous belief among idolaters, which he conveys from his teacher, stating: “The idolaters fasted to calm the wrath of their gods when they had done something that provoked their anger, or to gain their favor and seek their assistance in specific matters and goals. They believed that pleasing the gods and drawing closer to them was achieved by tormenting the soul and eliminating physical desires.” This belief also spread among the People of the Book until Islam came and taught us that fasting and similar acts of worship are obligatory solely to prepare us for happiness through taqwa. Allah is free from need, and fasting was prescribed only for our benefit.
Fasting weakens the motivation for sin, breaks the desires that are the source of many sins, and renders material pleasures insignificant. It also strengthens the awe and fear of Allah in the soul because no one, except for the Lord, knows the true condition of the fasting person. This is one of the greatest spiritual and moral benefits of fasting.
B: Fasting as a Means of Controlling the Self and Desires
The second wisdom and purpose of fasting is the control of the self and desires. When the stomach is full, the soul tends toward indulgence; but when it remains hungry, it refrains from following its carnal desires.
Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended fasting for young people who are unable to marry, as fasting controls desires and prevents sin: “O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, let him do so, for it lowers the gaze and preserves modesty. And whoever is not able, then let him fast, for fasting is a shield for him.”
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