Fasting Importance in Islam | Saum (Fasting) and its impacts Islamic studies

Fasting Importance in Islam | Saum (Fasting) and its impacts Islamic studies

Synopsis

• Introduction
• Meaning and concept of fasting
• Importance of Fasting in Quran and Hadith
• Philosophy of Fasting: Why Fasting was obligatory?
• Real Aims and Objectives/Requirements of Fasting:
• Impacts of Fasting on Human Life and Society:

Fasting Importance in Islam

Introduction:

Fasting Importance in Islam. Fasting is one of the ―Five Pillars of Islam‖ or discipline of the faith (Iman). Fasting is a discipline that enables the Muslim to realize the pangs of hunger and thirst. It is, indeed, to create broader understanding of the problems of the underfed, under-clothed and shelter less people, and arouse an adequate amount of sympathy for their sufferings.
Saum (fasting) according to Islam is primarily a spiritual discipline. A new consciousness of higher life, a life above that which is maintained by eating and drinking, has been awakened. Allah‘s presence, which may be a matter of faith to others, becomes a reality for a fasting one, and this is made possible by the spiritual discipline underlying fasting.
There is also a moral discipline underlying fasting, for it is the training ground, where man is taught the greatest moral of his life—the lesson that he should be prepared to suffer the greatest privation and undergo the hardest trail rather than indulge in that which is not permitted to him.
In addition to its spiritual and moral values, fasting as prescribed in the Quran has also a social value, more effective than that which is realized through Salat. The appearance of the moon of Ramadan is a signal for a mass movement towards equality, which is not limited to one vicinity or even one country, but affects the whole Muslim world.
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 listening and evil talking.

Meaning and Concept of Fasting:

The Fourth pillar of Islam is ―Fasting‖ the technical term for it is (Saum) which is literally means to be at rest. It has been so named for the reason that while one is keeping fast he abstains from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk.

Importance of Fasting in Quran and Hadith:

Ibn-e-Umar reported Allah‘s Messenger (PBUH) as saying:
―Don‘t fast till you see the new moon and do not break your fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy, calculate when it should appear.‖ In a version, he said: ―The month consist of twenty nine days, wait till thirty days of previous month have passed.‖ (Bukhari and Muslim)

Philosophy of Fasting: Why Fasting was obligatory?

1. Aim of servitude of God
2. Ibadat—training of servitude
3. Fasting is a Hidden Ibadat
4. Fasting—sign of strength of Iman
5. One month‟s Continuous Training
6. Long Practice of Obedience
7. Favorable Collective Environment for Training

Real Aims and Objectives/Requirements of Fasting:

1. Abstention from laying
2. Faith and self-scrutiny:
3. Shield for protection from sins:
4. Temptation of Goodness:
5. Reward for Providing „Iftar‟:

Impacts of Fasting on Human Life and Society:

Spiritual Impacts:

1. Discipline and self-control
2. Attainment of Piety
3. Obedience to God
4. Closeness to God
5. Fasting Infuses Spirit of Jihad
6. Shield against sin
7. Immunity from Hypocrisy
8. Distinctive Position
9. Internal Security, Humanitarian and Spiritual Spirit

Moral Impacts:

1. Building Moral Character
2. Attainment of Moral Uplift
3. Fasting Controls Passion
4. Fasting Destroy the Pride of Man
5. Fasting Increases Moral Resistance of Man

Social Impacts:

1. Brotherhood and Sympathy
2. Social Congregation
3. Social Unity
4. Economic Benefits
5. Manifold Reward of Zakat, Sadaq, Fitrana

Read More: Importance of DEEN in Islam

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