The Fast of the Eyes, Ears, Tongue, and Heart

Saying of Dātā Sāhib رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ عَلَيْہِ

Sayyidunā Dātā Ganj Bakhsh 'Alī Hajwairī رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالَٰی عَلَيْہِ has said: In actual fact, fast implies 'abstinence' which has many conditions such as preventing the stomach from eating and drinking; preventing eyes from seeing someone lustfully; preventing ears from listening to backbiting; preventing the tongue from useless and inflammatory talking; preventing the body from disobeying Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in any way and so on. One can be called a true fasting person only when he fulfils all the aforementioned conditions. (Kashf-ul-Maḥjūb, pp. 353-354)

Unfortunately! Most of our Islamic brothers and sisters do not follow the manners of fasting at all, they feel proud of remaining thirsty and hungry. Despite fasting, they commit a lot of such acts forbidden by Sharī'ah. Even though such a fast will be considered valid but one will not be able to derive spiritual peace and pleasure from such a fast.

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللَّٰه تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Sin even in fast!

Dear Islamic brothers! Please have pity on yourselves and ponder carefully! In Ramadan, the fasting person avoids eating and drinking during the day, which was absolutely permissible even during the day in other months. Now ponder! Even the acts, such as eating and drinking, which were Halāl (lawful) before Ramadan are forbidden in this sacred month, so the acts which were already Ḥarām such as backbiting, lying, telling tales, suspicion, abusing, watching films, dramas and Nā-Mahram women etc., shaving the beard or trimming it less than a fist-length, misbehaving parents, hurting others without the permission of Sharī'ah will automatically become even more severely Ḥarām.

When a fasting person refrains from eating and drinking pure and clean foods in Ramadan why he does not refrain from unlawful (Ḥarām) acts. So if a person avoids eating and drinking in Ramadan but does not avoid unlawful acts leading to Hell, what type of fasting person he is?

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ does not need anything

Remember! The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has warned, 'If anyone does not refrain from indecent talking and evil acts (remember) Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ does not need his remaining hungry and thirsty.' (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 628, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 1903)

He صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has also said, 'Fasting implies abstaining not only from eating and drinking but also from useless and indecent talking.' (Al-Mustadrak, pp. 67, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 1611)

I am fasting

Therefore, as a fasting person refrains from eating and drinking he should also abstain from sins such as lying, backbiting, suspicion, laying a false blame, misusing his tongue etc. The Prophet of Raḥmah, the Intercessor of Ummah صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has also said: If someone fights you or abuses you, you should say to him 'I am fasting.' (Atturghīb Watarhīb, pp. 87, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 1)

I will eat you

Dear Islamic brothers! These days if a person begins to fight another, he replies, 'Shut up or else I will break my fast by eating you' (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid). We must never utter such words and should always remain humble. We can avoid such matters only when we make all of our body parts have fast (by preventing them from committing sins).

Meaning of fasting of body parts

The fast of body parts (e.g. preventing all the body parts from committing sins) is necessary not only in the state of fast, but also throughout the life. This is possible only when we have fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in our hearts.

Ponder over the terrifying situation of the Judgement Day! Everyone will be worried about himself; the sun will be showering fire (scorching heat), tongues will be hanging out of mouths due to extreme thirst. Wife, mother and father will be avoiding husband, son and children. Sinners will be caught, their mouths will be sealed and their body parts will testify to their sins. It is mentioned in Sūrah Yāsīn:

Today, We shall set seal on their mouths and their hands will talk to us and their feet will bear witness of their doings.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 23, Sūrah Yāsīn, verse 65)

O weak and feeble Islamic brothers! Fear from the troubles and tribulations of the Day of Judgement and make ardent efforts to prevent your body parts from indulging in sins. Here are details of the fasting of the body:

Fasting of eyes

Dear Islamic brothers! We should make our eyes fast by looking at only permissible things such as Masājid, the Holy Quran, the tombs of Auliyā رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ عَلَيْہِم, scholars and pious people. If possible, we should see the Holy Ka'bah, the sacred streets, valleys and mountains of Makka-tul-Mukarramah زَادَہَا اللہُ شَرَفًا وَتَعْظِيْمًا, the walls and houses of Madina-tul-Munawwarah عَلٰی سَاکِنِہَا اَفْضَلُ الصَّلٰوۃِ وَالسَّلَام, the green dome, minarets, deserts, gardens and the blessed Masjid of Madīnah.

Dear Islamic brothers! Please do make your eyes fast. Everyone should make his eyes fast constantly. Never misuse this gift of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in watching what has been prohibited by Sharī'ah such as films, dramas, Nā-Mahram women, attractive boys with lust or any one's private parts and even one's own private parts unnecessarily. Similarly, do not watch games or amusements that make you heedless of divine remembrance like the dance of monkeys and bears on streets (making monkey and bears dance and watching their dance are both impermissible).

Further, avoid watching cricket, wrestling, football, hockey, cards, chess, video games, table football, etc. (both watching and playing them is impermissible and the games that involve exposing one's knees or thighs because of wearing shorts are even worse. Remember, exposing the body from navel to and including knees is not permissible and, any other person's looking at these parts of body is also impermissible). Do not peep into another person's house without his permission, nor look at someone else's letter or notebook without his permission. Remember! A Ḥadīš states, 'Anyone who looks at his brother's letter without his permission looks in fire.' (Al-Mustadrak, pp. 384, vol. 5, Ḥadīš 7779)

Uṭhay na ānkh kabhī bhī gunāh kī jānib

'Aṭā karam say ho aysī hamayn ḥayā Yā Rab

Kisī kī khāmiyān daykhayn na mayrī ānkhayn aur

Sunayn na kān bhī 'aybawn kā tazkirah Yā Rab

Dikhā day aik jhalak sabz sabz gumbad kī

Bas un kay jalwayn mayn ā jāye phir qazā Yā Rab

May I never look at anything sinful

Bless me with such modesty, Yā Rab

May I do not look at anyone's faults

Nor do my ears hear anyone's faults, Yā Rab

Bless me with a glimpse of green dome

And with death in holy visions, Yā Rab