In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
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In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
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Question:
What is the reason why fasting is prescribed?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly we must note that one of the names of Allah is al-Hakeem (the Most
Wise). The word Hakeem is derived from the same root as hukm (ruling) and hikmah
(wisdom). Allah alone is the One Who issues rulings, and His rulings are the
most wise and perfect.
Secondly:
Allah does not prescribe any ruling but there is great wisdom behind it, which
we may understand, or our minds may not be guided to understand it. We may know
some of it but a great deal is hidden from us.
Thirdly:
Allah has mentioned the reason and wisdom behind His enjoining of fasting upon
us, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the
pious)”
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
Fasting is a means of attaining taqwa (piety, being conscious of Allah), and
taqwa means doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which He has
forbidden.
Fasting is one of the greatest means of helping a person to fulfill the commands
of Islam.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have mentioned some of the reasons
why fasting is prescribed, all of which are characteristics of taqwa, but there
is nothing wrong with quoting them here, to draw the attention of fasting people
to them and make them keen to attain them.
Among the reasons behind fasting are:
1 – Fasting is a means that makes us appreciate and give thanks for
pleasures. For fasting means giving up eating, drinking and intercourse, which
are among the greatest pleasures. By giving them up for a short time, we begin
to appreciate their value. Because the blessings of Allah are not recognized,
but when you abstain from them, you begin to recognize them, so this motivates
you to be grateful for them.
2 – Fasting is a means of giving up haraam things, because if a person
can give up halal things in order to please Allah and for fear of His painful
torment, then he will be more likely to refrain from haraam things. So fasting
is a means of avoiding the things that Allah has forbidden.
3 – Fasting enables us to control our desires, because when a person is
full his desires grow, but if he is hungry then his desire becomes weak. Hence
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O young men!
Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is more
effective in lowering the gaze and protecting one’s chastity. Whoever cannot do
that, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.”
4 – Fasting makes us feel compassion and empathy towards the poor,
because when the fasting person tastes the pain of hunger for a while, he
remembers those who are in this situation all the time, so he will hasten to do
acts of kindness to them and show compassion towards them. So fasting is a means
of feeling empathy with the poor.
5 – Fasting humiliates and weakens the Shaytaan; it weakens the effects
of his whispers (waswaas) on a person and reduces his sins. That is because the
Shaytaan “flows through the son of Adam like blood” as the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said, but fasting narrows the passages through
which the Shaytaan flows, so his influence grows less.
Sheikh al-Islam said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/246
Undoubtedly blood is created from food and drink, so when a person eats and
drinks, the passages through which the devils flow – which is the blood – become
wide. But if a person fasts, the passages through which the devils flow become
narrow, so hearts are motivated to do good deeds, and to give up evil deeds.
6 – The fasting person is training himself to remember that Allah is
always watching, so he gives up the things that he desires even though he is
able to take them, because he knows that Allah can see him.
7 – Fasting means developing an attitude of asceticism towards this world
and its desires, and seeking that which is with Allah.
8 – It makes the Muslim get used to doing a great deal of acts of
worship, because the fasting person usually does more acts of worship and gets
used to that.
These are some of the reasons why fasting is enjoined. We ask Allah to help us
to achieve them and to worship Him properly.
And Allah knows best.
See Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 116; Ibn al-Qayyim’s footnotes on al-Rawd al-Murabba’,
3/344; al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 28/9.