Author: Sayyed Musleh Uddin
Fasting and Its Position in Islam (Part 10)
The Obligation of Fasting and the Verses Revealed Regarding It
Due to the sublime wisdoms and the otherworldly and worldly objectives we have mentioned wisdoms and objectives whose complete understanding eludes the knowledge of scholars and the intelligence of the wise—and also to relieve the soul that has been wronged by overeating and a life of luxury and routine, rendering it weak and infirm; and to empower the Muslim to fulfill their special responsibility (Khilafah), which can only be achieved through moderation and balance, Allah Almighty obligated the fast of Ramadan. This obligation came after the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and the Muslims had migrated to Medina, the difficult days and trials had ended, and the means of livelihood were provided for them. This was so that no one would think that fasting was a matter of necessity and compulsion, inspired by the environment and economic conditions in which the Muslims lived in Mecca, and more suitable for the needy, destitute, or the oppressed and tortured, and that the wealthy, the capitalists, and the owners of properties and gardens had no need for it.
Fasting was made obligatory after belief had become firmly established in the hearts of the Muslims and had influenced them, after the Muslims had become accustomed to prayer, enamored with it, and accepted the Sharia’s commands and rulings with readiness, as if they were waiting for them.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (MABH) beautifully expressed this point, saying: “Because preventing people from using things they are accustomed to and from desires is one of the most difficult and arduous tasks, the obligation of fasting was delayed until the middle of the Islamic period, after the Hijrah, so that Tawhid and prayer would be firmly established in the Muslims, and they would become familiar with the commands of the Quran and gradually transition to it. Its obligation was in the second year of Hijrah, and when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed away, he had fasted seven Ramadans.”
Allah Almighty revealed these verses regarding the obligation of fasting: «يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ. أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ. شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ» Translation: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous – [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So, whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [for each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew. The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So, whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”
Continues…
[1]. The Ansar in Medina possessed properties and gardens and benefited from wealth and possessions, and the Muhajirun also engaged in trade, their economic conditions improved, and for many of them, the world expanded.
[2]. Zad al-Ma’ad, vol. 2, p. 152.
[3]. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse: 286.
