Before I begin listing the many benefits of the month of Ramadan, it
is important to point out that the reason we fast is because it is
ordained by Allah (SWT). All the benefits that we reap during this month
are just an added bonus. Allah (SWT) revealed to us in the Holy Qur'an:
"Ya ayuhal ladheena ameenu, kutiba 3alaykumu siyamu kama kutiba 3ala-ladheena min qableekum la3allaku, tattaqun". (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 183).
The English interpretation of that verse is:
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may obtain Taqwa"
The Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur'an translated the word Taqwa as "self-restraint". That's not a bad definition, but Taqwa has many dimensions. The word is multi-faceted and has many simultaneous meanings.
Taqwa is "mukhafatoo min Al-Jaleel, wal-3amal bi-tanzeel, wa ridda bil qaleel, wa istadadoo li yami-raheel".
Taqwa is a blend of God-consciousness, devotion to God, fearing the punishment of God and loving the reward of God.
So let's go back to the verse in the Qur'an. Allah (SWT) tells us
that he has prescribed fasting to us to obtain all aspects of Taqwa.
So how can we obtain all of that in just one month?
Do you guys remember taking Physical Education in school? Do you
remember "conditioning"? Conditioning, also dubbed "Hell month" is a
grueling month of sit-ups, push-ups, sprints, long distance running,
etc. The reason for this inhumane torture was to get our bodies
"conditioned" so that we can participate in sports without fatigue or
injuries. It makes our body stronger and is basically a good way to prep
our body for the year ahead.
Likewise, Ramadan strengthens our Iman (faith) and prepares us for
the year ahead. After Ramadan, you feel strengthened Iman and feel
confident in dealing with your daily affairs.
Making Haram the Halal
During the sunlight hours of Ramadan, the halal becomes haram.
Eating, drinking and relations between husband and wife are normally
halal, but while fastng, they become haram.
If a person can avoid eating food, which is normally lawful, then
certainly after Ramadan, he can avoid the food which is unlawful.
If a person can avoid drinking water, which is normally allowed, then a person can easily avoid drinking alcohol.
If a person can abstain from relations with their spouse, then how
easy it must become to avoid relations with someone you are not married
to.
By abstaining from that which is necessary, it becomes easy to avoid the unnecessary.
Reward
I often compare Ramadan to the bonus level of youraverage video game.
When you play a video game and you reach the bonus stage, you have 30
seconds in which your points double or triple. In this short period of
time, video game players rush to collect as many points as possible
before time runs out.
In Ramadan, you have 30 days in which your good deeds are multiplied
by 70 times. For this reason, Muslims who observe the fast try to do as
many good deeds during this month as possible. Not only do people
increase the amount of charity they give, but they perform extra
superrogatory prayers and read the Qur'an more frequently.
Punishment
Muslims know that the punishment for intentionally breaking the fast
is severe. You have to fast 60 days or feed 60 poor people for every
missed day of fasting without valid excuse. Therefore, Muslims are very
keen to observe the fast, unless they are sick or on a journey or women
during their menses.
Muslims are also keen not to lie or backbite during this month,
because doing so would render the fast defective. For this reason, a
person observing the fast thinks twice before saying anything.
Therefore, it is true that fasting teaches us "self-restraint".
Medical Benefits OF Fasting In Ramdan
Most Submitters (Muslims) do not fast because of
medical benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Quran. The
medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general has
been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest
of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects
of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different
from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or
inadequate calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at
or slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting
in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the
physician.
Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that
this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. If the lessons learned during
Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on
after Ramadan, it is beneficial for one’s entire life. Moreover, the type
of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets
such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets. Everything that
is permissible is taken in moderate quantities.
The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the
food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and
do not eat until dusk. Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at
all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing
slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact,
it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in
plant life, improve their longevity.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering
of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan
fasting would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate,
stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension. In 1994 the
first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in Casablanca,
entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim
researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting.
While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did
fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition. On
the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes
or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and
should not try to fast.
There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility
for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum,
and the crime rate decreases. This psychological improvement could be related
to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after
eating, aggravates behavior changes.
Recitation of the Quran not only produces a tranquility of heart and mind,
but improves the memory. Therefore, I encourage my Muslim patients to fast in
the month of Ramadan, but they must do it under medical supervision. Healthy
adult Muslims should not fear becoming weak by fasting, but instead it should
improve their health and stamina.
