The Wisdom and Health Benefits of Fasting in Islam

For whom fast is Farḍ?

Like Ṣalāh, the fasts of Ramadan are also Farḍ for every such (male and female) Muslim who is sane and has reached puberty. It is stated in Durr-e-Mukhtār that fasts were declared Farḍ on 10ᵗʰ Shaʿbān two years after Hijrah. (Durr-e-Mukhtār maʿ Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 330, vol. 3)

Reason of fasts becoming Farḍ

Most of the acts in Islam remind us of faith-refreshing Islamic and historical events. Running between Ṣafā and Marwah reminds us of Sayyidatunā Hājirah's رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہَا walking and running between these two mountains seven times in search of water for her son Sayyidunā Ismāʿīl عَلَيْہِ السَّلَام. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ liked this act and declared it Wājib for all those who perform Ḥajj and 'Umrah to imitate her in order to keep this act alive.

Likewise, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم spent some days of Ramadan in seclusion in the cave of Ḥirā where he صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم used to refrain from eating during the day and worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ at night. In order to keep the memory of this blessed act of His Beloved and Blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم alive Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ made it Farḍ for us to fast in Ramadan.

Fasts of the Prophets عَلَيْہِمُ السَّلَام

The people of the previous Ummahs also fasted but their manner of fasting was different from ours.

According to narrations, Sayyidunā Ādam عَلَيْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام would fast on the 13ᵗʰ, 14ᵗʰ and 15ᵗʰ dates. (Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, pp. 257, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24188)

Sayyidunā Nūḥ عَلَيْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام used to fast every day. (Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 333, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 1714)

Sayyidunā 'Īsā عَلَيْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام would fast every day and would never miss even a single fast. (Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, pp. 304, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24624)

Sayyidunā Dāwūd عَلَيْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام used to fast on alternate days. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 584, Ḥadīš 1189)

Sayyidunā Sulaymān عَلَيْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام used to fast on the first three, the middle three and the last three days of every month. (Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, pp. 304, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24624)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللَّٰه تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Fasting person possesses strong faith

Dear Islamic brothers! (Imagine) It is extremely hot, the throat and lips of the fasting Muslim have been dry due to thirst, he has water and food as well, but he does not even look at them despite extreme thirst and hunger due to his steadfast belief in Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He knows that although no one watches him apparently, in fact, none of his actions is concealed from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. This firm faith of the fasting Muslim is the practical outcome of fast. Other forms of worship involve physical movements and are visible to others but fast is such a form of worship which no one can come to know, only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ knows. Even if a person eats secretly, people will still regard him a fasting person, but he refrains from eating for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ only.

Dear Islamic brothers! If possible, make your children fast from their early age so that they won't face any difficulty in fasting after they reach the age of puberty.

scholars رَحِمَہُمُ اللہ have said, 'When children reach the age of ten and are healthy enough to fast they should be made to fast in Ramadan. If they do not fast despite being healthy enough to do so, they should be strictly made to fast even by beating. If they break it, they will not be ordered to make up for it (do Qaḍā), but if they break their Ṣalāh, they will be ordered to offer it again.' (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 385, vol 3)

Does man fall ill due to fast?

There is a general misconception that a person falls ill as a result of fasting, but this has nothing to do with reality. A'lā Ḥaḍrat رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالَٰی عَلَيْہِ has stated in Al-Malfūẓ (part 2, page 143), 'Once I saw my respected father Sayyidunā Maulānā Naqī 'Alī Khān رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالَٰی عَلَيْہِ in my dream a few weeks before Ramadan; he said, 'Son, you will fall severely ill in the following Ramadan, but be careful, you should not miss even a single fast.' As my father predicted, I did fall severely ill in Ramadan, but I did not miss even a single fast. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted me good health by the blessing of fasts. The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has said, 'صُوْمُوْا تَصِحُّوْا' (Fast; you will get healthy).' (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšūr, pp. 440, vol. 1)

Fast improves health

Sayyidunā 'Alī كَرَّمَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی وَجْہَہُ الْکَرِيْم has narrated that the Prophet of Raḥmah, the Intercessor of Ummah صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has said, 'Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ sent a revelation to one of the Prophets of Banī Isrāīl commanding him to inform his Ummah that if anyone fasts a day for My pleasure, I will grant him good health and reward him greatly.' (Shu'ab-ul-Īmān, pp. 412, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3923)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللَّٰه تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Swollen stomach

Dear Islamic brothers! اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the foregoing Ḥadīš makes it clear that fast not only improves our health but also provides us with an opportunity to get great reward. The scientists of the present age have also accepted this fact.

Therefore, Professor Moore Palid of Oxford University has stated, 'While studying Islamic books, I was astonished to know that Islam has given a great gift to its followers in the form of fasts! I also felt like fasting, so I began to fast in conformity with Islamic method. My stomach was swollen for quite a while; surprisingly, I felt an obvious reduction in pain as a result of fasting for just a few days. Therefore, I kept on fasting and recovered from my illness within a month.'

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللَّٰه تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Astonishing discoveries

A priest from Holland, Alf Gaal, has stated, 'I made several patients suffering from diabetics, heart and stomach diseases fast continuously for thirty days. Resultantly, the diabetes of the diabetics came under control, the heart patients felt a decrease in their fear and breathing problems, and the condition of the stomach patients improved the most.' Sigmund Freud, a psychologist, has also accepted the fact that fast is an excellent cure for physical stress, depression and mental disorders.