We are approaching the holy month of Ramadan, a month of fasting for Muslims. All Muslims are eager to celebrate this yearly occasion as there are enormous rewards awaiting those who strive to accomplish fasting during this month with flying colours. With regards to this, the Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
Verily, there is a gate in Paradise called Al–Rayyan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter it along with them. It will be said: Where are those who fasted? They will stand, and no one will enter it along with them. When they enter it, it will be closed, and no one else will go through it (Sahih Muslim).”
However, this is the ultimate reward of fasting promised in the Hereafter. In this worldly life, fasting is prescribed for us to cleanse our souls in order to achieve a state of piety and righteousness. This is clearly stated in the Holy Quran, surah al-Baqarah, verse 183 as the objectives of fasting during Ramadan:
“Oh, you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn piety and righteousness.”
Certainly, piety and righteousness are the highest objectives of every act of worship, including fasting in the month of Ramadan. But, at the same time, there are other implicit aims of fasting that significantly contribute to achieving piety and righteousness. Interestingly, these objectives benefit anyone who fasts and is not only limited to Muslims.
One of the implicit aims of fasting is related to physical health and wellbeing. Fasting during the month of Ramadan reduces the intake of calories. In a way, this enables our lifestyle and digestive system to have a positive pause. As a result, our digestive system gets a chance to rest, and our stomach gradually shrinks in size. In turn, it reduces our appetite and trains us to avoid overeating.
Eating in moderation is essential to avoid obesity. Obesity which leads to many non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, is a global problem. According to World Health Organisation, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
In Malaysia alone, overweight and obesity among adults display an alarming situation. According to the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2019, one in every two adults in Malaysia is overweight or obese. Apparently, according to the same report, from 2011 to 2019, those three diseases are increasing in trend. Therefore fasting in the month of Ramadan should be an opportunity to curb the negative trend by training ourselves to reduce the intake of calories.
Furthermore, overeating contradicts another implicit objective of the holy month of fasting: remembering the difficulties and hunger undergone by poor people. It is one of the classical spirits of Ramadan to inject the feeling of togetherness among people. Ramadan teaches the wealthy to understand the situation of the poor and how they suffer from hunger and need. Going through the same experience during Ramadan encourages and motivates us to help unfortunate people.
Indeed, people in many parts of the world, such as Somalia, Chad, Congo, and Afghanistan, are currently suffering from extreme hunger, according to the latest Global Hunger Index 2021.
In Malaysia, although the hunger situation is classified as moderate according to the same report, it is still a condition that should never be taken for granted. Ironically, many are overweight and obese, as being explained earlier. Perhaps, the inequality of food distribution amongst households is one of the causes of these two extremes.
Therefore, Ramadan gives the opportunity to reduce the imbalance by increasing charity toward poor people, especially those who struggle to feed themselves. The Prophet SAW said, “He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbour to his side goes hungry (al-Baihaqi).” Besides, whoever gives charity to the people in need during Ramadan, Allah will give high merit. This is supported by one of the Prophetic traditions:
“Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person (al-Tirmidhī).”
Indeed, charity during Ramadan is not an uncommon act of kindness as it is widely practised among Muslims. A household sharing food with neighbours, NGOs feeding the homeless, mosques providing iftar for nearby residents, and wealthy people sending food to poor students in colleges are examples of charity during Ramadan. These acts become more meaningful, especially amidst COVID-19, where people struggle to continue living as many lose their jobs. Giving charity to them would reduce and ease their financial burden.
Above all, fasting is undoubtedly prescribed to Muslims for the sake of worshipping Allah and attaining His blessings. The main objective of fasting is to achieve taqwā (piety), as mentioned in the Quran. The importance of taqwā is further emphasised when it is mentioned in more than 158 verses of the Quran and even more in the hadiths. While this is so, it is worthwhile to point out the indirect benefits of fasting to the physical life of society. Hopefully, this will show how beautiful Islam is as a dīn that prescribes fasting during Ramadan.