Ramadan is the ninth and the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast, abstain from pleasures, and pray during Ramadan to draw closer to God. It’s also a time for families to get together and enjoy the blessings of Allah. Muslims start fasting from the following day after the crescent moon appears in the sky, signaling the beginning of a new month. As a result, Ramadan does not begin in many countries until religious leaders declare that they have personally seen the crescent moon. The prolonged fasting ends with the worldwide celebration of Eid ul Fitr.

Millions of individuals worldwide fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. However, apart from the spiritual significance, most of them are unaware of the benefits of fasting in Ramadan. It requires immense self-control to remain without food and water for roughly 12-14 hours a day. Muslim health professionals suggest that the ritual has numerous physiological, spiritual, psychological, and scientific benefits. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to empathize with poor and needy people worldwide.

Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Worship Allah, and worship none along with Him, offer the (five) prescribed compulsory prayers perfectly, pay the compulsory Zakat, and fast the month of Ramadan”.

Ramadan is the chance for us to attain spiritual purification. Millions of people avail themselves of the peace of souls by fasting for 30 days from dawn to dusk each year. But there are some people who are worried that fasting might have a bad effect on their health. Especially parents became too worried about the health of their children and think that fasting is not good for the health of their children who stays at the hostel for study or job. If you are also one of those health-conscious people then check out our list of benefits of Ramzan and you will be surprised how Ramadan and fasting bring magical advantages for our health and spiritual strength.

BENEFITS OF FASTING IN RAMADAN:

More than one billion Muslims globally practice a strict ritual of moral abstinence and fasting during the month of Ramadan. The tradition of fasting dates back more than 1,300 years and started with the formation of Islam. Given below are numerous benefits of fasting in Ramadan:

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF RAMADAN FASTING:

Increases Taqwa:

Taqwa is an Islamic phrase that refers to being aware of Allah and the truth and “piety and dread of God”. The term frequently appears in the holy book of the Quran. It bears the deep sense of being cautious over one’s own life and actions, as the angels are constantly on the watch. Additionally, fasting enhances the ability to be mindful of Allah and avoid unintentional offenses against the ways shown by Him. As a result, people lead on the path away from sins and wrong deeds.

Leads to paradise and prevents Hellfire:

Only those who fast during Ramadan will be allowed to enter paradise through the Ar-Rayyan gate on the Day of Resurrection. The virtue motivates people to increase their voluntary fasts while preparing for Ramadan. According to Muslim scholars, even a single day of fasting takes an individual away from Hellfire towards Jannah.

It carries unimaginable reward:

Like many good deeds, fasting will carry us to Jannah and distance us from Hellfire. But what is the specific reward of fasting? What is something we can only gain by fasting for the sake of Allah?

The Prophet (saw) said, ‘Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times it’s like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, “Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, as he leaves off his desires and his food for Me”. For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk’. [Bukhari]

Scholars have commented that the reward of fasting is actually Allah Himself - we are sacrificing our own basic need for food and water for His sake, and He will reward us with Himself in the next life! There is truly no greater ‘time of joy’ than this - it is the ultimate reward.

THE MENTAL BENEFITS OF FASTING:

One of the ways fasting helps us mentally is by improving our relationship with food.

Stop structuring our days around mealtimes:

Ideally, a Muslim’s day should be structured around prayer times, but it’s easy to think of our days in terms of breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner! When we fast, we can stop planning our days around how to satisfy our bodies, and instead focus on pleasing Allah.

Learn how to listen to our bodies:

Our appetites are actually much smaller than we think they are! At the end of the fasting day, despite being apparently ‘starving’, we are only able to eat a small plate of food due to our stomachs shrinking - and we are satisfied with that! Fasting is the perfect way to learn how to listen to our bodies again, understand when we are actually full and re-set our portion sizes.

Think of Allah every time we eat:

Because the fasting day is limited to sahur and iftar, both of which emphasise making a pure intention and making du’a, we end up remembering Allah every time we eat. This is how it should always be - but how many of us say ‘Bismillah’ and ‘Alhamdulillah’ every time we grab a snack or squeeze a meal in between Zoom meetings? Every bite we take is a blessing from Allah, fuelling our bodies and minds and delighting our senses. Fasting instantly turns the act of eating into an act of worship, as it reminds us to eat in Allah’s Name.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING IN RAMZAN:

Protection from obesity and chronic diseases:

Fasting throughout Ramadan may assist in preventing obesity and other chronic diseases such as diabetes. Ramadan fasting requires abstaining from the consumption of food and water between sunrise and sunset. Hence, it enhances the levels of proteins providing insulin resistance. It also offers protection against the hazards of a fat and sugar-rich diet.

Lowering cholesterol & improving blood sugar level:

As Ramadan Fasting stimulates the lipid profile, it lowers blood cholesterol. Consequently, it prevents heart attacks, strokes, and other disorders. Also, if one maintains a healthy diet after Ramadan, individuals will retain the newly reduced cholesterol level.

Improved digestive system:

Observing Ramadan and fasting positively impacts one lifestyle and digestive system. A human body naturally detoxifies after a month of flushing out of the toxins in the body. Further, it balances the heat generation and acidity levels in the human stomach.

A fasting person physically feels the value of, and their need for, basic sustenance when they experience the pangs of hunger and thirst. Since a believer fasts for the sake of God, they acknowledge the sustenance, which may be taken for granted, actually comes from God. Therefore, fasting in the Islamic tradition is the best way to show a true and sincere thanksgiving. Fasting tames the desires. The constant exercise of willpower not to eat, drink or have sexual relations sends a strong message it is the human will, hence the spirit, that is in control.

Fasting is not just about staying hungry or thirsty, it is also to struggle to contain other harmful behaviours. Prophet Muhammad remarked: Whoever doesn’t give up lying and acting on lies during fasting, then God has no need for him to give up food and drink.

Therefore, the fundamental spiritual benefit of fasting is to exercise the will-power and attain self-control, essential for success in every part of life.

Ramadan ends in a three-day celebration (Eid al-Fitr), where Muslims offer a special morning prayer, then visit family and friends. Charity, called fitr, is given to the poor to ensure no one is left out of the celebrations and the joy of success that comes with fasting.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 22 2023

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