Fasting: A Divine Prescription for Body and Soul
Fasting brings a multitude of benefits, which is why it is a mandatory practice in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) often spoke of the many virtues of fasting.
Medical science suggests that many diseases stem from excess food that is consumed but not utilized by the body. These surplus nutrients can lead to infections, creating an ideal environment for bacteria and microbes to thrive.
Therefore, the primary treatment for these diseases involves eliminating these excess substances through fasting. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) echoed this scientific fact as he has been quoted as saying “The stomach is the house of all pains, and abstinence is the highest medicine.”
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Fasting is also seen as a means to control sexual desire, with a direct correlation between chastity and fasting. The Holy Quran advises those who are unable to marry to practice chastity: “Those who cannot afford marriage should be continent until Allah enriches them out of His grace” (Surah An-Nur, verse 33). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also recommended fasting to young people who are not yet able to marry.
Islamic teachings emphasize that fasting helps individuals remember the hunger and thirst of the Day of Judgment, leading to self-improvement. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) highlighted this in a sermon before the start of Ramadan, urging people to remember their hunger and thirst on the Day of Resurrection and to show compassion to the poor.
Fasting also serves to create a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. While the wealthy can afford any food they desire, the poor often lack this privilege. By making fasting obligatory, even the rich can experience the hunger that the poor endure, if only for a few days each year.
