Fasting is a fundamental practice in Islam that involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical desires from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. However, beyond the physical benefits of fasting, it also has spiritual significance. This article will explore how fasting can increase Taqwa (faith), an essential Islamic concept.
Reminding oneself of being God’s servant:
Fasting helps to reinforce the belief that one is a servant of God. When a person gives up certain natural desires during fasting, it increases their feelings of servitude. This feeling is particularly strong at the time of breaking the fast. By following the ritual of fasting every year, a person internalizes the belief that they are a servant of God. This awareness leads to greater submission to God’s authority and acceptance of His will. As a result, a person’s faith in God becomes stronger, and they come to believe in Him as an All-Hearing, All-Seeing, All-Knowing and All-Wise Being Who is just and aware of all aspects of their life.
Being accountable before God:
Fasting is a powerful tool for helping a person realize, from the depths of their heart, that they will one day stand before the Almighty to answer for their actions. Although all Muslims believe in this ultimate accountability, it is only when a person is fasting and feeling the pangs of thirst, hunger, and desire that this truth becomes deeply ingrained in their soul. For hours each day during the blessed month of Ramadan, a person willingly and steadfastly refrains from fulfilling their natural urges, simply because they know that they will one day have to face their Creator. It takes an immense amount of effort to resist the temptation of quenching their thirst, sating their hunger, or giving in to their desires, but it is all done in order to please Allah. And in doing so, the awareness of being answerable to God becomes deeply rooted in their being.
Just think of it – in the sweltering heat of summer, with a parched throat and sweat trickling down their forehead, a fasting person resists the temptation of ice-cold water that is readily available to them. When their stomach growls with hunger and their body weakens, they turn away from the delicious food that is within reach. And even when a husband and wife are together, alone and able to fulfill their physical desires, they choose to abstain in order to please their Lord. All of these acts of self-control and discipline, all of this sacrifice and effort, is for the sake of Allah.
It is this awareness of accountability that is the foundation of taqwa – the consciousness of Allah’s presence and the desire to please Him above all else. May Allah grant us all the strength and determination to strive towards increased taqwa (faith).
Developing patience:
There’s perhaps no other way to train ourselves to be patient than by fasting. This practice serves as a test for us, where we are pulled in two opposing directions. On one hand, our physical and carnal desires are compelling, while on the other hand, we are required to live a life within the limits set by the Almighty. This trial demands that we exercise patience at every step of our lives. Without traits such as honesty, veracity, justice, forbearance, forgiveness, keeping promises, perseverance on the truth, avoiding evil, and eschewing lust, taqwa (faith) becomes meaningless. And without patience, we cannot hope to cultivate these qualities within ourselves.
This Ramadan, as we fast, we must learn to control our impulses and desires. By persevering through the hunger, thirst, and other difficulties that come with fasting, we can develop our patience and strengthen our faith. This journey towards ‘faith’ is not an easy one, but it is a rewarding one that brings us closer to our ‘Creator’.
By practicing these principles, a person can develop a strong belief in Allah and live a life that aligns with the limits set by the Almighty.