Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it’s a very important act of worship for Muslims in the month of Ramadan. Fasting means completely stopping eating and drinking and avoiding things that break the fast from dawn till sunset. In this article, we’ll know What is Fasting in Islamic Religion, its great benefits, and its religious rules.
What is Fasting in Islamic Religion?
Fasting in language means stopping and refraining from something. In Islamic law, it means stopping all things that break the fast, physically and spiritually, from Fajr until Maghrib, with a sincere intention (Niyyah) to fast. Fasting in Ramadan is an obligation for all Muslims who meet the conditions. Allah says:
(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ).
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alssiyamu kama kutiba AAala allatheena min qablikum laAAallakum tattaqoon.”
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam and Allah has made fasting obligatory for all able Muslims. Fasting in Ramadan means following Allah’s commands to stop all things that break the fast. Islam also considers situations where fasting is difficult, allowing people to break their fast and make it up later or pay a Fidyah. Allah says:
(شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ).
“Shahru ramadana allathee onzila feehi alqur-anu hudan lilnnasi wabayyinatin mina alhuda walfurqani faman shahida minkumu alshshahra falyasumhu waman kana mareedan aw AAala safarin faAAiddatun min ayyamin okhara yureedu Allahu bikumu alyusra wala yureedu bikumu alAAusra.”
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:185)
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The Virtue and Benefits of Fasting in Islam
After learning about fasting in Islam, we’ll now learn about its great benefits:
- Removing toxins from the body and cleaning it from harmful substances.
- Controlling blood sugar levels and reducing high blood pressure.
- Improving heart health and cholesterol levels.
- Fasting strengthens the bond between a person and Allah because it encourages humility and obedience.
- Strengthening a Muslim’s willpower and keeping them away from forbidden desires, leading to obedience to Allah and earning His pleasure.
- Fasting keeps a Muslim away from Hellfire. The Prophet PBUH said:
(ما من عبد يصوم يوماً في سبيل اللَّه إلا باعد اللَّه بذلك اليوم وجهه عن النار سبعين خريفاً).
“No servant fasts a day in the way of Allah but Allah will distance his face from the Fire seventy autumns because of it.”
- Fasting intercedes for a person on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet PBUH said:
(الصيام والقرآن يشفعان للعبد يوم القيامة يقول الصيام: أي رب منعته الطعام والشهوة فشفّعني فيه، ويقول القرآن منعته النوم بالليل فشفعني فيه قال فيشفعان).
“Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting says: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.’ And the Qur’an says: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night, so accept my intercession for him.’ He said: ‘So they intercede.'”
- Fasting is a major reason for prayers being answered, sins being forgiven, and people’s wrongdoings being forgiven.
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Types of Fasting
Fasting in Islam is mainly divided into two types:
- Obligatory Fasting (Fard): This is fasting that a responsible Muslim must do, and they sin greatly if they leave it intentionally, such as fasting in Ramadan, fulfilling a vow (Nazar), and fasting for Kaffarah.
- Voluntary Fasting (Nafl): This is fasting that a Muslim is recommended to do, but it’s not obligatory and they don’t sin if they don’t do it, such as fasting six days of Shawwal, Mondays and Thursdays, the Day of Arafah, and fasting on the Day of Ashura.
Conditions for the Validity of Fasting
The conditions for fasting to be valid are:
- Islam: Fasting is a pillar of Islam and is not for non-Muslims.
- Puberty: A Muslim isn’t accountable for fasting before reaching puberty. The Prophet PBUH said:
(رُفِعَ القلمُ عن ثلاثةٍ: عَن المَجنونِ المَغلوبِ على عَقْلِهِ حتى يَبْرَأَ، وعن النائِمِ حتى يَستيقِظَ، وعنِ الصبِيِّ حتى يَحْتَلِمَ).
“The pen is lifted from three: from the insane person until he recovers, from the sleeper until he awakens, and from the child until he reaches puberty.”
- Sanity: Islam commands every sane Muslim to fast; an insane person isn’t obligated.
- Ability: A person must be physically able to fast which excludes the elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and the chronically ill.
- Residence: A person must be residing in their country as travelers don’t have to fast but must make up the days later.
- Niyyah: The sincere intention to fast from the night before. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
(مَنْ لمْ يُبَيِّتْ الصيامَ قبْلَ طُلوعِ الفجْرِ، فلَا صِيامَ لهُ).
“Whoever does not intend to fast before dawn, then there is no fast for him.”
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Actions that Invalidate Fasting and Prohibitions
Many things invalidate the fast:
- Eating and drinking intentionally, not forgetting or making mistakes.
- Vomiting deliberately. The Prophet PBUH said:
“من ذرعه القيء فليس عليه قضاء، ومن استقاء عمداً فليقض”.
“Whoever is overcome by vomiting, there is no making up for him, and whoever deliberately vomits, let him make up.”
- Sexual intercourse during the day in Ramadan.
- Masturbation (Always Haram all the time).
- Postpartum bleeding (Nifas) or menstruation (Hayd).
- Significant blood loss through cupping.
- Smoking.
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Rulings on Fasting for the Traveler and the Sick
Allah has allowed travelers and the sick to break their fast in Ramadan. The conditions are:
- The traveler must travel the distance of shortening prayers (approximately 83 kilometers). It’s permissible to break the fast. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that Hamza bin Amr al-Aslami asked the Prophet PBUH:
(أَأَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ؟) وَكَانَ كَثِيرَ الصِّيَامِ ، فَقَالَ : (إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِرْ).
“Shall I fast while traveling?” and he used to fast a lot, so he said: “If you wish, fast, and if you wish, break your fast.”
- The sick person who finds it difficult to fast can break their fast in Ramadan and make up the days when they recover.
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The Impact of Fasting on Physical and Psychological Health
Fasting has many physical and psychological benefits:
- Enhancing self-control as fasting requires strong will.
- Encouraging patience and reducing anxiety and stress.
- Improving mood and controlling anger.
- Strengthening memory and improving attention.
- Strengthening immunity and preventing diseases.
- Reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease.
- Helping with weight loss.
- Renewing body cells and delaying aging.
- Controlling blood pressure and improving digestion.
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When is Kaffarah for Breaking the Fast in Ramadan?
Kaffarah is required in the following cases:
- Breaking the fast deliberately without a valid reason.
- Having sexual intercourse during the day in Ramadan deliberately.
- Having unmade-up fasts from the previous Ramadan when able to fast.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women who break their fast out of fear for their fetus.
The Kaffarah for deliberately breaking the fast in Ramadan depends on the reason and nature of the act. If someone intentionally eats or drinks without a valid excuse, they must sincerely repent to Allah and make up for the missed day after Ramadan. In this case, there is no requirement for an additional Kaffarah beyond making up the fast and seeking forgiveness.
However, if the fasting person deliberately breaks their fast by engaging in sexual intercourse, a more severe expiation is required. The first obligation is to free a believing slave, which is not applicable in modern times. If that is not possible, the person must fast for two consecutive months without interruption.
If they are unable to fast, they must feed sixty needy people. In addition to this, they must make up for the missed day and sincerely repent, as engaging in intercourse during the daytime in Ramadan is considered a major sin.
It is important to note that Kaffarah is only obligatory in the case of deliberate intercourse during Ramadan. If someone breaks their fast out of forgetfulness or under coercion, they are not held accountable and should continue their fast. Those who are sick or traveling are permitted to break their fast, but they must make up for the missed days later.
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What are the Days that are Recommended to Fast Voluntarily?
Recommended days for voluntary fasting:
- Fasting six days of Shawwal as the Prophet PBUH said:
من صام رمضان، ثم أتبعه ستاً من شوال، كان كصيام الدهر.
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year.”
- Fasting the Day of Arafah for those not performing Hajj as the Prophet PBUH said:
(صيام يوم عرفة أحتسب على الله أن يكفِّر السنة التي قبله ، والسنة التي بعده).
“Fasting the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah that it will expiate for the year before it and the year after it.”
- Fasting the Day of Ashura as the Prophet PBUH said:
أحتسب على الله أن يكفر السنة التي قبله
“I hope from Allah that it will expiate for the year before it.”
- Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays as the Prophet PBUH used to be keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Fasting three days of each month as the Prophet PBUH said:
صم من الشهر ثلاثة أيام ، فإن الحسنة بعشر أمثالها، وذلك مثل صيام الدهر.
“Fast three days of the month, for a good deed is multiplied by ten, and that is like fasting the entire year.”
Fasting in Islam is an obligation on every sane, adult Muslim who is able to fast and it is one of the closest acts of worship to Allah. The Muslim is rewarded for fasting. The Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah guide us to understand “What is Fasting in Islamic Religion?” It is not just avoiding food and drink, but it is a chance to get closer to Allah, have sins forgiven, and win Paradise.
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