Islamic Studies

Soum (Fasting)

I. Introduction

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It enables Muslims to realize the pangs of hunger and thirst. In the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims observe complete abstinence from food, water, and many other things from dawn until dusk. Allah Almighty has prescribed fasting on Muslims as prescribed on others. Allah says in Holy Quran: “O you who believe, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that may become righteous.” (Al-Quran)

II. Definition of fasting

Lexicology: الصوم means to control or to prevent.

Fasting can be described as:

“To abstain oneself completely from food, drinks and other legitimate desire from the dawn of the morning up to the sunset, with the intension of fast during the entire month of Ramzan.“

iii. philosophy of fasting

There is great importance attached to Fasting for Allah made it obligatory in each and every period.
 

1. Aim of Life-Servitude of Allah

The real aim of Islam is to make the whole life of man transformed into the ibadat of Allah. Man is born as a slave, and slavery, i.e servitude is ingrained in his very nature. Therefore, he must not be free for a single moment from ibadat, i.e servitude to Allah, in thought and deed. Allah Almighty has created man for his ibadat. 
 
In Surah Az-Zuriyat verse: 56, Allah Almighty says:
 
 

“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.” (Al-Quran)

2. Ibadat-Training of Servitude

The real purpose of religious duties like Salah, Hajj, Fasting, and Zakat having been made obligatory for Muslims, is to train for a big “Ibadat”. Ramadan is the training of 30 days in which Muslims feel the pain of hunger and thirst.
 

3. Fasting is a Hidden Ibadat

All religious duties except fasting are performed by some outward movement or the other.  For instance, in Salah a man stands, sits, and does Ruku and Sajdah which is visible to everybody; in Hajj he goes on a long journey and travels with hundreds of thousands of people. Zakat is also given by one person and received by another person. All these religious works cannot be concealed. If one performs them, other people come to know about it.
 
According to Hadith e Qudsi, Allah Almighty says:
 

“Fasting is for Me and I will reward it.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

 

iv. importance of fasting in holy quran and ahadith

1. Importance of Fasting in the Holy Quran

The first and foremost quality of the fast is that it creates piety and fear of Allah. 
 
In Surah Al-Baqarah verse: 183, Allah Almighty says:
 
 

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed before you, that you not ward off evil.” (Al-Quran)

 
In Surah Al-Bakarah verse: 185, Allah Almighty says:
 
 

“So whoever witnesses among you the month (Ramadan) then he should fast in it.” (Al-Quran)

 

2. Importance of Fasting in Ahadith Nabawi ﷺ

 
About fasting, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
 

“Fasting is a shield for you as it saves you from sins in this world and would protect you from hell in the Hereafter.” (Muslim)

“When anyone of you is observing fast, he should neither use indecent language nor speak aloud. If someone kicks up a row and abuses him, he should tell him that he is observing fast.” (Muslim)

 

v. impacts of fasting on human life

1. Spiritual Impacts

a. Discipline and self-control

Fasting has immense spiritual value for it is basically a spiritual exercise and discipline. It brings man closer to God and removes all barriers between him and his Lord.
 

b. Attainment of piety

The very purpose of fasting is the attainment of taqwa. Fasting is observed by God and only He knows whether a person is really fasting or not, it brings a man very close to his Creator.

c. Fasting infuses the spirit of jihad

The training trial of the month of Ramadan is unique in the respect that it inculcates the spirit of Jihad in the believers. It prepares him for Jihad with hunger, thirst, obedience, patience, and perseverance.

2. Moral Impacts

a. Building moral character

Fasting teaches a man moral discipline through practical rain during the month of Ramadan. It is through fasting that he suffers and undergoes trials of hunger and thirst. It helps in building up his moral character.
 

b. Fasting controls passion

It is the best way to control passion. For example: If a man has rich food, he will get a strong passion which is the cause of all evils.
 

c. Fasting destroys the pride of man

The king or beggar landlord or layman becomes. All men realize the severity of fasting also.
 

3. Social Impacts

a. Brotherhood and sympathy

Hunger is a great revealing experience. It shows people what it is like to be hungry. It helps them to feel and share other people’s suffering in hunger and thirst.
 

b. Social unity

Certainly, it has a great social impact when all Muslims, from every walk of life, fast together. They come together in large numbers for iftari and for tarawih prayers in the mosques and sit together. It helps to bring them closer to each other, thrilled and filled with sentiments of love and brotherhood.
 

c. Economic benefits

Fasting brings enormous economic benefits to the Muslim community. During the month of Ramadan, the rich people spend very generously on the poor to win the pleasure of God. Their generosity and charity enable the poor section of the community to receive sufficient funds during this month to meet their needs for at least a part of the year.
 

vi. conclusion

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar is the month during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Muslims refrain from eating, smoking, drinking, and any refrain from pleasurable activities. According to Imam Ghazali, “Fast does not mean only to control on food and water but it means to control oneself from evil thinking, evil-looking, evil listening, and evil talking. Ramadan is the month that aims to purify the soul and bring the individual close to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Besides this, fasting infuses the spirit of Jihad, builds moral character, and brings social unity.

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