Questions and Answers

When Prophet Muhammad was returning from Taif, he was overwhelmed with sorrow at the response he received from the leaders of Taif. The people of Taif ordered their children to throw stones at Prophet Muhammad to drive him out of the city, causing him to bleed profusely. It was in this state of being wounded, hungry and thirsty, that God suggested turning the valley of Makkah into gold for him but Prophet Muhammad replied, “No, my Lord, but let me have enough to eat and be hungry on alternate days; then when I am hungry I shall make supplication to You and make mention of You, and when I have enough I shall praise and thank You.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 22190) From this Hadith, it can be drawn that the feeling of hunger and thirst serve the purpose of inculcating sensitivity within a person by making him experience helplessness. This develops piety in a person. Is it okay to fast during the day and eat and drink as per our desires at night? Fasting does not simply amount to observing hunger for a temporary period of time. In fact, it symbolizes a lifelong culture of dedication. The Arabic equivalent of fasting is sawm, which means abstinence. Abstinence is the gist of fasting. Abstinence from food and water for a limited period is symbolic training. Fasting reminds a faithful person that if the acts of abstinence were to reach the extent of refraining from food and water for a temporary period, then he would be ready to do so for a higher purpose. Although this training is for a temporary period it enables a person to lead his whole life in accordance with this spirit. Fasting is not a set of rituals. It is the adoption of the well-known principle— simple living, high thinking.