The Reality of Fasting

الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، أما بعد

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said concerning fasting:

“It is the rein of the pious and the shield of the combatants and the physical training of the righteous and those brought close, and it is for The Lord of the creation from among the rest of the actions. For indeed the fasting person does nothing, and only abandons his desire and his food and his drink for the sake of The One Whom he worships. Therefore it is an abandonment of those things that are loved by soul, as well as objects of its delight – out of preference for the love of Allaah and His pleasure.

It is the secret between the servant and His Lord, no one is acquainted with it beside Him, whilst the rest of the servants may be acquainted of his abandonment of the outward actions that would invalidate fasting. As for that which pertains to the abandonment of his food and drink and his desires for the sake of The One Whom he worships, then it is an affair that none from mankind are acquainted with – and that is the reality of fasting.

Fasting has a remarkable effect in conserving the outer limbs, as well as the inner potencies, and protects them from merging with the unsound harmful elements that can be procured for them; which – if they take possession over them, they corrupt them. As well as vacating the bad components that are prohibitive of their sound health. So fasting preserves and safeguards for the heart and the limbs their health, and restores to them that which was plundered from them through the influences of desires, thus it is from the greatest aids upon Taqwa (piety and fearfulness) as He, The Most High, said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

((O you who believe; fasting is prescribed upon you just as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may attain Taqwa [piety and fearfulness])) (Al-Baqarah: 183)”[1]

وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين

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[1] Zaadul Ma’aad vol 2 p.29