BENEFIT OF RAMADHAN FASTING

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

“O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa” (Quran 2:183)

At the beginning to end of Ramadan month, Muslims in every nook and corner of the world fast from dawn to dusk daily.

The Arabic word Taqwa is translated in English in many ways including God consciousness, God fearing, piety, and self restraining.

The temptations and ways of our world and surrounding tend to spoil our purity and austerity. Many useless things get prevented in this month of Ramadan. Over eating all the time creating obesity, drinking too much Coffee or Tea per day causes health problems. Sexaholics prevent themselves from it this month, sometimes while talking or arguing we resort to vulgar words and sometimes physical fight too without caring of the surrounding is prevented.

These things get prevented in this holy month, the person cannot even taste the food cooked by him or eat it, creating a self control on himself. Prevent oneself from useless gossips or talks and prevents the chain smokers from smoking for a great deal of time.

Looking on a person or a lady with lustful eyes is also prevented, more over some religious persons tell looking on the faces of the opposite gender, who is not your relative or family member during this holy month is a sin. Prevented from looking on to opposite gender.

MEDICAL BENFITS

Fasting by Muslims is not for medical benefits, that is of secondary nature. The adverse affects of fasting is that diets crash down as the calorie intake during this month of fasting is at or slightly below the national requirements guidelines.

Fasting is not being prescribed by a dietitian and its voluntarily done. As no extra proteins or fruit diets are taken, whatever that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities.

The only difference between total fasting and Ramadan is the food timing, a breakfast pretty soon and lunch is missed with no water intake, causing slight water dehydration but Human boby is strong enough to adjust it. In no way has fasting worsen any patient’s health or their baseline medical condition. Certain exemption for patients with diseases like type I diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and are not be allowed to fast.

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS

• lowering of blood sugar.
• lowering of cholesterol.
• lowering of systolic blood pressure.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

• peace
• calmness
• serenity
• minimum hostility
• crime rate decreases

In the last 10 days of Ramadan one of the odd nights is called the “Night of Power” when angels descend down, and take the prayers of worship of persons who pray with true heart to God for acceptance.

Fasting which is only between God and humans as it is a special act of worship as no one knows whether the person is actually fasting or just for the name sake acting as if he is fasting.

Thus Allah says in a hadith qudsi that “Fasting is for Me and I only will reward it”.

Another hadith as written, Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) says “If one does not give up falsehoods in words and actions, Allah has no need of him giving up food and drink”.