The Command of Fasting

This is the basic commandment regarding fasting. It has been further elaborated upon in the Hadith and the Fiqh. In the books of Hadith, a number of traditions have been collected under the chapter sawm, which show different aspects of the rite of fasting. According to Abu Huraira, the Prophet of Islam once observed: ‘When any one of you is fasting, he should refrain from all indecencies. He should not raise his voice. If anyone fights with him or abuses him, he should not retaliate, but simply say that he is fasting.’ (Sahih alBukhari, Hadith No. 1894) This tradition tells us about the actual spirit of fasting, which is to abstain from all those things that God has forbidden. The command to refrain from consuming food and drink during the month of Ramadan is, in actual fact, a practical lesson in doing so. Food and water is the last thing that one may be asked to refrain from. Putting a curb on man’s basic necessities is to give a strongly worded lesson—that the things God has forbidden you must be eschewed, however contrary that might be to your tastes and habits. This should be done, even if it involves doing without your most basic requirements. Another tradition is recorded in these words: “The Prophet of Islam said that when a person who was on a fast was abused, he should say in return, “Peace be upon you, I am not the one to return abuse for abuse.” For such a person God has this to say: “My servant took refuge in fasting for someone’s evil; so I also gave him refuge from hellfire.” (Tartib al-Amaliy al-Khamisiyah li Shajari, Hadith No. 1348) The goal of fasting is, therefore, to develop in man the ability to lead his life bound by restrictions, rather than lead a totally unfettered life.