5 Pillars of Islam: Fasting in Ramadan

Fasting in the month of Ramadan, is one of the 5 pillars in Islam, alongside Testimony of Faith (Syahadah), the 5 obligatory prayers (Salah), obligatory donation (Zakat), and performing a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Fasting has been ordained as mandatory by Allah to all adult, healthy Muslims. Children, the elderlies, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, travellers, and those who are physically and/or mentally incapable of fasting are exempted from this act of worship.

In its actual essence, fasting means to abstain from food and drink, as well as sexual intercourse, from sunrise to sunset every day, for a month. Ramadan is also a time for us to refrain from backbiting, lying and slandering – metaphorical diseases of the heart.

As Allah states in the Quran: “O you who believe, fasts have been enjoined upon you as they have been enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing”¹

And the Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH) said:

“O people! A great month has come; a blessed month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month), shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time; and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month), shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise. It is the month of charity and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Hell-Fire, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.”²

The above verses both from the Quran and Prophet Muhammad sayings (hadith), show us that the practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes, namely:

To attain piety (Taqwa)

To remind us of our weaknesses and full dependence on Allah for each and everything

To remind ourselves of the less fortunate, so we may feel more compassion towards them, thus encouraging us to render more help and assistance

To reinforce the extreme need to be more thankful for all the blessings He had bestowed upon us, as opposed to complaining

To reduce life distractions in the hopes that we can be more focused on our connection with Him

To maximise the generosity of Allah in His bountiful rewards 

Muslims, from all over the world look forward to the holy month of Ramadan and its arrival is welcomed with joy and excitement amongst adults and children alike! Fasting encourages us to get closer to Allah and to exercise patience and compassion. Ramadan is when we focus on our spiritual well-being, by feeding and nourishing our souls through ibadah.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims aim to strengthen our spiritual well-being by devoting ourselves to Allah, and also strengthen the relationships with our loved ones. Ramadan promotes solidarity among the community, where we perform acts of charity and give generously to those who are in need. It is also perfect for spiritual discipline - a time to practice mindfulness and to constantly reflect on how we can be better. During Ramadan is when we reflect on how deep our relationship with Allah is, and supplement it with intense studying and comprehending of the Quran.

Ramadan is also known as the month of the holy Quran. As Allah states in the Quran: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month.³

May Allah  grant us to be in the next Ramadan to come, allowing us to be able to reap all of its goodness, and most importantly, accept all our good deeds. O Oh Allah please hear my prayers. (Allahumma Ameen).

Did you enjoy this article on Fasting in Ramadan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Read on for the final  article in the series: 5 Pillars of Islam – Pilgrimage to Mecca.

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