Questions and Answers

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS What is the purpose of fasting? “Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourself against evil. … so that you may glorify Him for His having guided you and so that you may be grateful to Him.” (The Quran, 2:183, 185) According these verses the purpose of fasting is: to make one cautious in life (2:183) and to make one thankful to God (2:185). The temporary deprivation of food and water makes one realize these as divine blessings. Then one develops thanksgiving towards God Almighty for giving us these blessings. Discovering one’s helplessness or ijz, one prays truly to God. Such prayers connect him to the Almighty. This experience makes him aware of his duties as God’s humble servant. This feeling leads to caution in life. It makes on God-conscious and live a life of piety. This is a training in taqwa or in God-consciousness. What is the spirit of Ramadan? The spirit of Ramadan is the spirit of abstinence. In Arabic, fasting is known as ‘Saum’ meaning abstinence. Abstaining from food and drink during the month of Ramadan is aimed to awaken the ‘sawm spirit’ of the believer. Food and drink are two of man’s basic necessities. These are the last things one should be asked to abstain from. Asking a person to abstain from basic necessities like food and drink is like giving a strong and powerful message that you have to abstain from all the things God has forbidden you, much as this may go against your wishes. A fast which is devoid of the sawm spirit will not be acceptable to God or be rewarded.