Fasting is a golden opportunity for whoever wants to improve his relationship with Allah. It is a month in which the gates of Hellfire are closed, the gates of Paradise are opened, the devils are chained, and a caller cries out: “O seeker of good, come forward! O seeker of evil, desist!”. Know that merely reaching this month is a great blessing that deserves to be praised to Allah day and night.
You must prepare yourself by sincere repentance for all the sins and transgressions you have committed. Even the acts of worship that you have neglected, you must repent for them and promise Allah to change for the better. In this article, we will know When did fasting start in islam?, the stages of its imposition, and the importance of fasting.
When did fasting start in islam?
Many people wonder: When did fasting start in islam? As Allah SWT obligated fasting on the previous nations as He obligated it on the Muslims. This is due to great wisdom, because fasting carries many meanings and lessons.
Fasting began in Islam after Allah obligated the five daily prayers on the Muslims during the Isra and Mi’raj night. Allah SWT obligated fasting in the second year of the Hijra in Medina. This was in the month of Sha’ban, when the Quranic verses were revealed that show the necessity of fasting. Allah SWT said in His Holy Book:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ”
Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū kutiba ‘alaykumus-siyāmu kamā kutiba ‘alalladhīna min qablikum la’allakum tattaqūn.
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.
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How Did Fasting Evolve in Islam Since Its Revelation?
Fasting evolved in Islam since its revelation, as it went through several stages that we will explain in detail in the next few lines. In the beginning, fasting Ashura was obligated, then it was abrogated after that. Allah commanded fasting Ramadan, but you had the freedom and choice in this matter. After that, eating, drinking, and intercourse were prohibited throughout the month at night after sleeping. This was abrogated and Allah obligated fasting Ramadan while allowing eating, drinking, and intercourse at night.
Stages of Imposing Fasting on Muslims
Fasting went through several stages until it became the current state that we see today. This is because fasting was imposed in the middle of Islam after the Hijra, so that people would get used to Tawhid and prayer, and it would be easier for them to abstain from desires and food. That is, it was imposed gradually, and this is evident in the following:
- In the beginning, an order was revealed from Allah SWT to fast Ashura, and the evidence for that is what was reported from our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), where she said:
“كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ يَوْمًا تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُهُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ المَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ، وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ لاَ يَصُومُهُ”
The day of Ashura was a day that the Quraish used to fast in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and the Prophet PBUH used to fast it. When he came to Medina, he fasted it and ordered people to fast it. When Ramadan was revealed, whoever wanted to fast it, fasted it, and whoever wanted not to fast it, did not fast it.
- The stage of choice, where the Muslim can choose between two things: either fasting or feeding a poor person, and the evidence for that is:
“وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ”
Wa ‘ala alladhīna yuṭīqūnahu fidyatun ṭa’āmu miskīn, fa-man taṭawwa’a khayran fa-huwa khayrun lah, wa an taṣūmū khayrun lakum in kuntum ta’lamūn.
And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is better for you, if you only knew.
- Imposing fasting without choice on every sane, adult, and able Muslim, as Allah SWT said:
“شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُون”
Shahru Ramaḍāna alladhī unzila fīhi al-Qur’ānu hudan lil-nāsi wa bayyinātin mina al-hudā wa al-furqān, fa-man shahida minkumu al-shahra fa-lyaṣumhu, wa man kāna marīḍan aw ‘alā safarin fa-‘iddatun min ayyāmin ukhar. Yurīdu Allahu bikumu al-yusra wa lā yurīdu bikumu al-‘usra wa li-tukmilū al-‘iddata wa li-tukabbirū Allāha ‘alā mā hadākum wa la’allakum tashkurūn.
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, 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 and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
- If the fasting person slept at any time after sunset, intercourse, eating, and drinking were forbidden for him until the next day. This ruling was abrogated with time, and Allah legislated for the Muslim to eat, drink, and have intercourse after breaking the fast at night, where a specific time for fasting is determined, which is from the Fajr prayer until the Maghrib prayer.
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Importance of Fasting in Islam and Previous Nations
Fasting has great importance that lies in achieving piety, purifying hearts, refining souls, and forgiving sins. It also helps in self-discipline and strengthening willpower. It saves you from the Fire and intercedes for its companion on the Day of Judgment. It helps us to feel for others, bear responsibility, and achieve social sufficiency through charity and good deeds.
It strengthens our relationship with Allah SWT and makes us enjoy intimacy with Him. It also disciplines people by resisting desires and staying away from what is forbidden. It is your means to answer supplications. On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet PBUH said:
“ثلاث حق على الله أن لا يرد لهم دعوة الصائم حتى يفطر، والمظلوم حتى ينتصر والمسافر حتى يرجع”
Three people have a right on Allah that their supplication is not rejected: the fasting person until he breaks his fast, the oppressed person until he is victorious, and the traveler until he returns.
Fasting also helps in strengthening immunity, improving blood circulation, and reducing excess weight.
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Why Was Fasting Obligated in the Month of Ramadan Specifically?
Fasting was obligated in the month of Ramadan specifically because it is the month in which the Quran was revealed, which is the word of Allah revealed to His servant Muhammad PBUH to guide humanity and to worship Allah as He deserves to be worshiped. This shows the virtue and value of this month with Allah. It also has a night that is better than all the nights of the world, which is Laylat al-Qadr, which is equal to a thousand months, and in which the angels descend.
How Did the Rulings of Fasting Change After the Revelation of Legislation?
After the revelation of the legislation, the rulings of fasting changed through the permissibility of intercourse, eating, and drinking after Maghrib. The Muslim also learned about the pillars of fasting, its obligations, and its recommended acts. He knew the types of fasting, whether obligatory, recommended, disliked, or even forbidden. The Muslim also became more aware of the things that may invalidate fasting and learned the excuses that permit breaking the fast, and understood the jurisprudence of fasting and the wisdom and values behind this obligation.
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The Relationship Between Fasting and the Prophetic Hijra
The Prophetic Hijra helped in building a strong Islamic society capable of spreading the religion in all parts of the earth. The Muslim learned about Allah and the Hereafter. Therefore, it became necessary to perform the basic acts of worship such as fasting and prayer.
Therefore, Allah SWT obligated fasting after the Hijra for a short period in the second year, because fasting revives the principles of brotherhood and compassion among Muslims and helps them in obedience. These acts of worship also have another dimension in seeing collective capabilities.
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FAQs
What Is the First Day the Prophet Muhammad PBUH Fasted in Ramadan?
The first day the Prophet PBUH fasted in Ramadan was Wednesday, because the Battle of Badr was on the seventeenth of Ramadan, and that coincided with Friday. The Prophet PBUH fasted approximately nine Ramadans.
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What Is the Difference Between Fasting Among Muslims and Previous Nations?
Fasting was obligated on the previous nations as it was obligated on the Muslims, and the evidence is:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ»
Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū kutiba ‘alaykumus-siyāmu kamā kutiba ‘alalladhīna min qablikum la’allakum tattaqūn.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
There is a difference between fasting among Muslims and previous nations. For example, Zechariah fasted from speaking, and it was said that the previous people used to fast three days of each month. It was mentioned in Ibn Kathir’s interpretation that Moses and Jesus fasted Ramadan.
When their scholars came, they added ten days to that, and added ten days again as a vow to heal one of the scholars, i.e., approximately fifty days of fasting. However, it differs in its characteristics and time from the fasting of Muslims.
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How Did the Early Muslims Receive the Obligation of Fasting?
The Companions dealt with all the commands of Allah with complete obedience, because they realized the importance of worship and its effect on souls. In addition, worship was imposed gradually to prepare them to receive it correctly.
