Exactly what are the benefits derivable from fasting in the month of Ramadan? As of the last time I ruminated over this question, I discovered nothing less than twenty lessons and benefits of this month for the Muslim Ummah and indeed the world at large. Now let us begin from the “beginning”.
The most important consideration in embarking on fasting, as is true in any act of devotion in Islam, is to seek nearness to the Almighty; to seek His pleasure and Forgiveness. Thus, a Muslim who fasts conscientiously, a Muslim who embarks on the fast of the elite in line with our suggestion last week would ultimately attain a status of piety. He would walk “with” and work “in” the Almighty. When a Muslim works “in” and walks “with” the Almighty, he becomes the beloved of the Almighty.
The Prophet says that whenever a servant of the Almighty becomes the beloved of the Almighty, He, the Almighty becomes his hand with which he holds onto things – whatever he holds becomes strong; whatever he does becomes sanctioned by the Almighty. When a Muslim observes fasting and other extra acts of worship like nawafil, he becomes the beloved of the Almighty such that He, the Almighty becomes his tongue with which he talks – whatever he says becomes encoded with divine gravitas; his wishes become the wish of the Almighty.
Thus, fasting during the month of Ramadan provides us all with the opportunity to examine our spiritual status. A Muslim who forsakes the pleasure of food and drinks and embarks on this fasting, a Muslim who creates the conditions of hunger and thirst for herself, simply in obeisance to the will of the Almighty is actually and indirectly involved in sharpening his weapon of survival on the terrestrial earth where survival has become simply difficult if not impossible.
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Thus, a Muslim who fasts is like a hunter who takes time off hunting to sharpen his weapon of hunt. He who fasts conscientiously becomes an unassailable and inimitable fortress against the devil and its agents; you cannot be the beloved of the Almighty and still become a prey to earthly principalities.
Brethren through the act of fasting we create an artificial or temporary scarcity and want. This is meant to awaken us to the value of the bounties of the Almighty which we often take for granted. We consequently become better aware of His blessings over us; we derive greater reason to be grateful to Him.
In other words, whenever we settle down at dusk to break our fast, the meal on our table should remind us of the perpetual scarcity and want in which some of our fellow human beings are presently steeped. Each morsel we put in our mouth at iftar during this month should remind us of the life of penury and want in which some Muslims in parts of the world are presently manacled. It should inculcate in us the important ethic of moderation; that the Almighty would be pleased with us when we exhibit a life of moderation and restraint, not in overindulgence; not in stuffing our stomachs with food and drinks.
In other words, fasting is like a school in which the Muslim is expected to receive training and skills in endurance, perseverance and compassion. Fasting teaches Muslims how to not quit when the going gets tough; and that the war of life is won not through resort to escapism. When we fast, when we forsake the luxuries that the Almighty has endowed us with, we are indirectly affirming the slippery nature and essence of this world; that in-between life of prosperity and austerity is a distance which is as long as the movement of our eyelids. A Muslim who fasts is preparing for possible life changes; he is affirming that nothing in life is ever permanent.
Thus fasting, one of our teachers reminds us, develops in the Muslims the ideals of courage, fortitude, and a fighting spirit to surmount the heavy odds in life with a cool and tranquil mind. It sharpens our power of concentration and steels our willpower and resolve.
Ramadan comes every year with that opportunity for our leaders, particularly those who are Muslims, to conquer their hedonistic and libidinous excesses. It provides the servant with the mechanism to overcome anger; it seeks to imbue us with self-control. Is it not true that the vigorous effort required to put up with hunger and thirst can well be extended to conquer other infirmities of human character that often lead to error and sin?
Brethren, fasting inculcates a spirit of tolerance in man to face unpleasant conditions and situations without turning his fellow human being into a victim of his wrath. Many people, when facing discomfort and deprivation, often become irritable and petulant. This anger is then visited on those around them.
Fasting helps a man become more tolerant despite his discomfort. The Prophet says when a Muslim who is fasting is abused, he should say: “I’m Fasting”. Thus, it instills in us the spirit of forgiveness towards others, as we seek the forgiveness of the Almighty for our iniquities.
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