WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 5)

June 03, 2017

By Yusuff Ademola Adesina

EPISODE 5: The Spiritual Virtues and Biopsychosocial Benefits of Fasting

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help; we seek His forgiveness and guidance. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our evil deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead astray, whomever He allows to go astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and that He has no partner. I also bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is His servant and messenger.

So far in this series, I have discussed the virtues of the month of Ramadan, the obligation of fasting the month of Ramadan and rulings related to it, the Sunnah and etiquette of Sahur and Iftar, and matters related to Taraweeh. And, I hope you’ve benefited from this series. May Allah reward you for reading this, and accept your acts of worship.

In this episode, I shall focus the discussion on the spiritual virtues of fasting and its biospsychosocial benefits.

The Spiritual Virtues of Fasting

The virtues of fasting are indeed great ones. Allah has chosen fasting as an act of worshipping Him and He will reward it in multiples. Among the spiritual virtues of fasting are those enlisted below:

1. Gaining of Taqwaa

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Q2:183)

2. Forgiveness of past sins

Narrated by Abu Huraira(Allah pleased with him)

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven…" (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 125)

3. Gaining of paradise(Al-Jannah)

Narrated by Sahl(Allah pleased with him)

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 120)

4. Rewards of fasting is known to Allah only

The Prophet said: “Allah said: “All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me and I will give the reward for it” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 128)

5. Protection from Hell fire:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said: "Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins.” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 128)

6. Mouth smell better than the smell of musk

The Prophet said: “By Him in whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in sight of Allah than the smell of musk” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 128)

7. Two pleasures for the one who fasts

The Prophet said: “There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord, and then he will be pleased because of his fasting” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Bk 31, Hadith 128)

8. Intercession for the individual

Abdullah ibn Amr narrated: The Prophet said: “Fasting and reading Quran will intercede for the person. Fasting will say: O lord I forbade him from eating and drinking, so let me intercede from him, and Qur`an will say: I deprived him from his sleep at night, so let me intercede for him” He (PBUH) said: “so their intercession will be accepted” (Musnad Ahmad)

9. There is no deed like fasting

Aboo ᾿Umaamah asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to give him a duty, doing which will benefit him in this world and the Hereafter, and lead him to Paradise. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) told him: “Fast! There is no deed which is like it. There is no deed equal to it” (Musnad Ahmad 22140)

The Biopsychosocial Benefits of Fasting

It is obvious from the ‘Ayah (verse) of Allah in Suratul Baqarah (Q2:183) that the ultimate essence of fasting is to become pious and righteous. And for this reason Muslims do seek the pleasure of Allah in the month of Ramadan through numerous acts of worship to become more righteous than before.
However, fasting does not only benefit the Muslims spiritually, but also benefit them biologically, psychologically and socially.
It’s been found that in a normal state, the glucose is the main source of energy in our body which is stored in the liver and muscles, but during fasting state, this glucose will be used up due to the abstinence from foods and drinks. Then fat becomes the next source of energy for our body. The use of fat for energy helps in weight loss which has many benefits such as:

1. Better control of diabetes

2. Reduction in blood pressure

3. Reduction in blood cholesterol level

Other biospsychosocial benefits of fasting are:
1.       Self control (Good speech, good manner and good habits)
2.       Detoxification process
3.       Lowering of blood sugar levels
4.       Self regulation and self training
5.       Weight loss
6.       High level of Awareness
7.       General Mental well-being
8.       Maintain tranquility and peace of mind
9.       Decrease in anger
10.   Reduces hostility
11.   Building and consolidation of unity amongst the Ummah (Muslim Community)
12.   Empathy with the poor and needy and Promotes well-being of the community

In conclusion, I hope you’ve learnt some beneficial points from this little compilation. Kindly note that the spiritual virtues and biopsychosocial benefits of fasting are not restricted to the above mentioned points; perhaps there are many more of it. I pray that Allah bless this effort and make it reach those who benefit from it, and add this work to our scale of good deeds. Looking forward to having you read the next episode which will be centred on ad-Dua (Supplication).

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