Benefits of Fasting

Fasting is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that has many lasting benefits.

1. Heightened consciousness of Allah

Fasting helps you to become less preoccupied with bodily appetite, and gives the heart and mind the freedom to reflect upon deeper spiritual matters, such as your relationship with Allah and with fellow human beings. It enables a person to develop sustained consciousness of Allah (Takwa).

2. Healthy lifestyle

A fasting person learns restraint and only responds to hunger and thirst in a heightened level of consciousness and discipline. Through fasting, a person begins to appreciate the value of food. In the Quran, ''healthy and wholesome food'' is described as the best of provisions. Thus fasting makes a person to choose a healthier life style by making small but lasting changes to their daily diet.

3. Compassion and charity

When fasting, you should think of those in need who may be fasting but have no food at the start or the end of their fast, those whose tiny children are also having to go hungry because of poverty. The Prophet Muhammad described Ramadhan as “the month of mercy”. His companions observed: “The Prophet (Muhammad) was the most generous of people, but he would be his most generous during Ramadhan …”

4. Community spirit

During Ramadan, the one who fasts has heightened concerns for the well-being of the community – rich and poor, intellectuals and labourers. Community spirit is promoted as people start fasting at the same time and break their fast at the same time, and reflect together through longer prayer and deeper devotions. It is greatly encouraged to break fast together.

5. A fast without the spirit is empty of blessing

Abstention for long hours can be very hard physically and spiritually. However, by the end of the long month you should feel cleansed and with a renewed spirit. Ramadan is an ideal time to break bad habits, to reflect on personality and to improve your character. Those who fast but make no change to their lives except delaying a meal cannot really expect to become any different in their behaviour during or after Ramadan. In many ways, this is a wasted fast, as stressed in a number of sayings of the blessed Prophet: fasting is not merely “abstention from eating and drinking, but also from vain speech and foul language”. Fasting is, therefore, about much more than just giving up food and drink and hoping to lose a couple of pounds. By fasting, a person reflects, acts and betters his or her character.