Spiritual, Psychological, and Social Benefits of Fasting During Ramadhan
From His Mercy, Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, has provided us with various rituals throughout our lives in the Dunya or this world. What may seem, at times, to be arduous and challenging is, in essence, for our benefit. All rituals are intended specific purposes, of which the three most important ones are:
1)To bring a person closer to Allah, our Lord and Creator.
2)To purify the soul of lower desires and weakness; and
3)To regulate social and individual life. Fasting is one such ritual that covers these three functions and beyond. To truly comprehend the concept of fasting in Islam is to perceive the spiritual, psychological, and social benefits that it affords the individual.
Spiritual and Moral Benefits
The spiritual benefits are, of course, the main focus of fasting during Ramadhan. If all other benefits were eliminated, these would be sufficient.
An act of obedience and submission to Allah
Fasting is an act of obedience based upon sincere love of Allah. Because submission brings one closer to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, it fulfills the true purpose in life. The fasting person leaves his desires for the sake of putting what Allah wants first. It is for this reason that Allah has promised the fasting person vast rewards. Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, says about the fasting person, He has left his food, drink and desires for my sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times” (Bukhari) If this were the sole reason for fasting, it would surely suffice.
Acknowledgement of Allah as the only Master and Sustainer of the Universe
Fasting reminds us that it is only through Allah’s bounties that we derive our existence and sustenance. Without it, we would not have all that we are blessed with. This leads us to realize how much we are in need of our Lord. As a result, we find it easy to turn to Him wholeheartedly to ask for His help in all affairs, material and spiritual. Doing that means complete tawakkul or reliance upon Allah, an essential aspect of tawheed and eman.
Appreciation of the bounties of Allah
It is natural to follow recognition of Allah’s Generosity with gratitude. We should reflect upon what we have been given and give true thanks to our Creator. Allah says, “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and (wants) for you to complete the period and magnify Allah for that (to) which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (2:185) That for which we are most grateful is being Muslim and being blessed with the ability to submit to Allah. Thankfulness and gratitude towards Allah is an essential characteristic of true believers.
Purification of the Soul
Fasting assists the individual in purifying the self from lower desires and impulses such as lust, gluttony, greed, and extravagance. This is mainly through control of two features of the human body: the stomach and the private parts. These are the root causes of human downfall as they are the routes by which Satan attacks man. A human has the need to please both of these and in the process may transgress the rights of others, violate Allah’s Commandments, and harm the self. If an individual learns to control these two, it will be easy to control other sources of evil.
It is for this reason that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, encouraged fasting and moderation in eating. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “The son of Adam will never fill a container with something worse and evil than his stomach. It will suffice him some him some morsels (of food) that will keep him on his feet; otherwise, he should divide his stomach into three parts: one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and the last third for his breath.” (Ibn Hibban) The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, also said, “He who can afford to marry should marry, because it will help him to lower his gaze and save his private parts (from committing illegal sexual acts) and he who cannot afford to marry is advised to observe fasting for it will diminish his sexual power.” (Bukhari)
These needs are not evil in themselves, but they must be controlled and satisfied in the acceptable manner. Self-discipline enhances the ability to master needs and desires rather than being enslaved by them. This is jihad an-nafs.
Atonement for errors and mistakes
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Whoever fasts (the month of) Ramadhan with faith and hoping for its reward shall have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim). A Muslim should have genuine desire and love for fasting, not considering it to be a burden. Fasting cleanses both the body and the soul. As the body is cleansed of impurities, so too is the soul. The fast wipes the heart clean and removes the stains of sins. The month of Ramadhan is a yearly opportunity to repent of past sins and to start life anew, with the intention of adhering to the straight path for the following year.
Training the believer in taqwa (God-consciousness)
Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, says.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may become righteous (develop taqwa).” (2:183) Having taqwa means to be God-fearing, mindful of Allah, conscious of Allah’s “presence.” It also means to be mindful of one’s accountability before Allah. A person with taqwa is not willing to disobey Allah or risk Allah’s displeasure. During Ramadhan, a person refrains from lawful food and sexual actives for the sake of Allah; how better than to be able to avoid unlawful deeds and actions. Fasting leads to contemplation upon wrongdoing and reminds of Allah’s All-Encompassing Presence. This reduces the likelihood of committing sins and increases the attribute of taqwa.
Training the believer in ikhlas (Sincerity)
The fast is unique in comparison to other acts of worship. It is based entirely upon self-restraint. Self-restraint requires a high degree of sincerity and faithfulness.
In reality, an individual would not fast without some level of ikhlas present in the heart. Others can never be sure if a person is fasting or if he broke the fast in secret. This knowledge is with Allah Alone. Ikhlas is the foundation of any act of worship, and Ramadhan provides the opportunity to renew and strengthen it.
Teaching of other virtues
It is not enough to refrain from only food and drink, but one must avoid other vices and evils as well. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “If one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and drink”. (Bukhari) This means no quarrelling, telling lies, backbiting, indulging in idle talk and gossip. The virtues that are acquired during this blessed month must then be carried over into the rest of the year.
Through fasting, as individual starves the body, but feeds the soul.
Psychological Benefits
The psychological benefits are directly connected to the spiritual. Many of spiritual benefits noted above entail various psychological advantages as well. From the perspective of Islam, the soul is the center of the human being, so the connection between spiritual and psychological is a natural one. Psychologically, fasting has significant effects on thinking, emotions, and behavior. For this reason, it is occasionally recommended for people who suffer from psychological or emotional distress or disorders.
Enhancing feelings of inner peace, contentment, and optimism
From the realization of Allah’s pleasure and a sense of closeness to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, a person experiences feelings of inner peace and contentment during the period of the fast. This is directly related to the grace that Allah bestows upon His obedient slave. Through this process, a person may reduce or rid himself of stress, depression, anxiety, etc. It is a hidden treasure toward that which humans have strived since the beginning of time.
Teaching of patience and perseverance
A person who fasts acquires the ability to withstand hardship and tolerate hunger and thirst. It requires him to have firmness in the face of adversity. Patience has generally been described as consisting of three aspects: 1) persevering with respect to continual performance of acts of worship,2) persevering with respect to refraining from what Allah has prohibited, and 3) remaining under control during times of hardship and difficulty. Each of these three types of patience are tested and strengthened through fasting.
Teaching of self-control and self discipline
Related to purification of the soul, is the self-control and self-discipline that one acquires through fasting. It is probably the best behavior modification program available. One who fasts is able to break the habits of overeating, smoking, etc. These behaviours become forms of enslavement which fasting frees a person from. It is also one of the best anger management programs as it assists the individual in controlling anger and other related feelings. A person with a full stomach is more prone to anger outbursts as this is a door for Satan. With fasting, a person has less physical energy to become angry or to be angry with intensity.
Providing clarity and sharpness of mind and thinking
This aspect is related to the physiological benefits of fasting. When a person fasts, less blood goes to the stomach for processing of food, releasing it for passge to the brain. This leads to clarity of thinking and sharpness of the mind. Anyone who has experienced this will understand the concept. This gives the person time to think and ponder, and leads to increased intellectual productivity.
Social Benefits
Islam, in its comprehensiveness, ensures that a person lives a well balanced life through fulfillment of needs. Humans are social by nature and Ramadhan offers a prime opportunity to ensure that social needs are met in the most complete manner.
Promoting the spirit of unity and belonging within the Ummah
An amazing aspect of Ramadhan is that millions of Muslims around the globe unite for one single purpose to demonstrate their submission to Allah through depriving themselves of the pleasures of this life. This enhances the spirit of unity and belongingness within the Ummah. By following the same rules and observances, social solidarity is established with the family, the poor and needy, and the whole of society. The differences, disagreements, and disputes should be set aside as the focus becomes one of higher spiritual values.
Promoting the spirit of human equality before Allah
All Muslims, regardless of gender, race, nationality, or social class, experience the same deprivation during fasting-men and women, rich and poor, powerful and weak. There are no special privileges or favors for any group or class. This experience teaches us that we are, in reality, less different from each other than we are similar an important lesson in the fabric of life. Through this element, the “isms” present in societies are reduced racism, sexism, classism. Attempts in various societies to eliminate these negative facets have proven unsuccessful; Islam has the cure built into its structure.
Promoting the spirit of charity, compassion, and mercy towards poor and needy
Fasting and Ramadhan remind the believers of the needs of their brothers and sisters in Islam, and even of all those suffering in the world. The incentive to share the blessings of Allah with others becomes enhanced. In the normal course of existence, one may be able to imagine the suffering of the poor or think about hunger. One cannot, however really appreciate the suffering or hunger of others until it is actually experienced or felt. Of course, we do not approach the pain and distress of the truly needy, but we get a sense of what that experience means. This should augment our desire to relieve their misery. For this reason, Ramadhan is also known as the month of charity and generosity. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe aw sallam, increased his generosity during this month and he was the most generous.
Promoting sociability
Ramadhan is also a month of social connectedness. During this month, we are urged to invite others to break the fast for there are many rewards in feeding a fasting person. We gather to make salah together, to study the Qur’an, and to visit. Socialization occurs in a brotherly and spiritual atmosphere. The benefits of this permeate the individual as social needs are fulfilled.
Strengthening family ties
Not only are ties reinforced in the society, but also within families. Family members gather together to break fast, even if they have never taken the time throughout the year to share a meal. They eat suhoor together before fajr and spend time reading Qur’an. Disharmony and conflicts are put aside as the family enjoys the excitement and activities of the month.
Conclusion
The fasting of Ramadhan is a mercy from Allah, our All-Knowing Lord and Creator. If we go through this month with sincere striving and remembrance of Alla’s blessings, we will receive immense rewards, both in this world and in the eternal life. In this worldly life, the spiritual, psychological, and social benefits go beyond our expectations. Imam Ibnul Qayyim managed to summarize much of that when he said, “The purpose of fasting is that the spirit of man was released from the clutches of desires and moderation prevailed in his carnal self, and, through it, he realized the goal of purification and everlasting felicity. It is aimed at curtailing the intensity of desire and lust by means of hunger and thirst, at inducing man to realize how many were there in the world like him who had to go even without a small quantity of food, at making it difficult for the Devil to deceive him, and at restraining his organs from turning towards things in which there was the loss of both worlds. Fasting, thus, is the bridle of the God-fearing, the shield of the mujahid, and the discipline of the virtuous.” of this permeate the individual as social needs are fulfilled.
Strengthening family ties
Not only are ties reinforced in the society, but also within families. Family members gather together to break fast, even if they have never taken the time throughout the year to share a meal. They eat suhoor together before fajr and spend time reading Qur’an. Disharmony and conflicts are put aside as the family enjoys the excitement and activities of the month.
Conclusion
The fasting of Ramadhan is a mercy from Allah, our All-Knowing Lord and Creator. If we go through this month with sincere striving and remembrance of Alla’s blessings, we will receive immense rewards, both in this world and in the eternal life. In this worldly life, the spiritual, psychological, and social benefits go beyond our expectations. Imam Ibnul Qayyim managed to summarize much of that when he said, “The purpose of fasting is that the spirit of man was released from the clutches of desires and moderation prevailed in his carnal self, and, through it, he realized the goal of purification and everlasting felicity. It is aimed at curtailing the intensity of desire and lust by means of hunger and thirst, at inducing man to realize how many were there in the world like him who had to go even without a small quantity of food, at making it difficult for the Devil to deceive him, and at restraining his organs from turning towards things in which there was the loss of both worlds. Fasting, thus, is the bridle of the God-fearing, the shield of the mujahid, and the discipline of the virtuous.”