Fasting

Fasting

578

1993 11-12 November-December 4-5 Fasting (355)

On the subject of fasting the Prophet said, “Every good deed is rewarded from ten to 700 fold. But God has said that ‘fasting is for Me, and I will give it its reward. Man abstains from food and from satisfying his desires for My sake?’ One who fasts is destined to have two joys: one at the time of the breaking of the fast and the other when he meets his Lord.”

Fasting as a form of worship has a unique quality which distinguishes it from all other forms of obeisance. While fasting, man not only abstains from normally permissible food and drink and from the satisfaction of lawful desires, but he also demonstrates in the process his determination not to hesitate if at any time he should be required to give up the barest necessities of life for the sake of God. He shows his willingness to go beyond obedience to sacrifice. It is because of this special aspect of fasting as a form of worship that it has been singled out for a higher form of reward.

In this world, being a true believer does not just mean making the difference between right and wrong, lawful and unlawful and then acting accordingly. There are times, when, in unusual circumstances, we have to hold back even from lawful things. Sometimes we are obliged to adopt the policy not of resistance, but of avoidance. Sometimes the desire to show oneself in the right is overwhelming, but one has to stay one’s hand. Sometimes one has to remain silent in spite of having right on one’s side and great eloquence at one’s command. Sometimes one has to halt in one’s stride in spite of having the strength to press onwards. Sometimes one knows certain actions to be right, but has to refrain from taking any active steps.

Fasting teaches us the lesson that in this world it sometimes happens that a lawful thing becomes unlawful and a desired thing becomes undersirable. Those who succeed in living their lives according to this stringent standard of piety deserve such munificent reward from God as defies the imagination.