Fasting: Its Wisdom and its Benefits
September 11th, 2008 Aizat Health
Fasting strengthens our devotion to Allah
The importance of our worshipping Allah is one of the greatest objectives behind our fasting and behind all of our acts of devotion. Unfortunately, many Muslims fall short in their appreciation of this fact. Though they adhere to the performance of these acts of worship, their devotions are bereft of spiritual meaning and consequently fail to have the desired effect of bringing about true devotion and subservience to Allah.
Fasting strengthens our fear of Allah and gives us self restraint
If fasting does not awaken in us this consciousness, then it is to no purpose. We must work to cultivate this consciousness. Fasting needs to bring us to the point where we can easily give up sinful deeds like backbiting, spreading rumors, slander, licentiousness, and all ignoble, destructive traits.
Fasting builds character
Another benefit of fasting is that it develops our character by strengthening our willpower and bolstering our patience. This is why fasting is sometimes referred to as patience and Ramadan is sometimes called “the month of patience”.
Fasting puts our passions and our vain desires in check
Fasting keeps our compulsions in check by keeping us involved in a specific act of worship. This continuous connection with an act of worship helps us to refrain from unlawful acts, including those acts, like the forbidden gaze, that incite our desires.
Fasting provides numerous and varied spiritual and physical benefits
Doctors have discussed the health benefits of fasting and how it can help us in learning to manage our diets. Still, the real reason that a Muslim does any of these things is for the sake of worshipping and obeying Allah. He would do so even if there were no health benefits. However, Allah never commands us to do anything that would harm us in the least except when the benefits of doing so far outweigh the harm.
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