FASTING AS A FORM OF WORSHIP

Fasting gives a strong powerful lesson that you have to abstain from all the things God has forbidden you, however much it may go against your wishes. Fasting is a special training to help distinguish between what is allowed and forbidden—a preparation to lead a principled life—not merely during the month of fasting but for the whole year round. Before commencing the fast, the intention (niyyah) to keep the fast must be expressed. The Prophet observed: “A fast should be kept by one who has expressed his intention to do so before dawn.” Fasting is a conscious act not a mere ritual. It is performed with full consciousness of its implications—the mark of a truly religious person. Sehri is the meal eaten before commencing the fast. The Prophet asked his companions to eat Sehri, calling this a blessing. The Prophet invited a companion to partake of Sehri saying “Have the blessed Sehri.” Another companion says, “Once I went to the Prophet before dawn and he was eating Sehri.” The Prophet observed: “Sehri is a blessing bestowed on you by God, so you should partake of it.” Eating Sehri before dawn is a reminder that when God gives us a difficult command, He also grants some concessions along with it. Together with the command of fasting God gives the concession of Sehri. Any commandment of God, however difficult, requires absolute trust in Him. Routine daily activities go on but in a state of fasting; the difference being that the same activities are now conducted with a new frame of mind. The one who fasts now performs prayers, studies the Quran, remembers God, and deals with people during the course of the day. These routine activities are performed with a spiritual state of mind, giving them the status of spiritual acts. Sunset is the time for breaking the fast. As he does so, he thanks God with the following words of prayer used by the Prophet: “May the Lord be thanked and praised with Whose help I was able to fast, and now I am breaking the fast with the food and drink that He has provided. May God accept it. He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.” This prayer expresses the feelings that surge within a believer while breaking his fast.