Why Fast?

When fasting is merely understood as being hungry and thirsty, one might question why we fast and what benefit this has for a human. However, as is emphasized in the verses and hadith above, fasting is first and foremost an indispensable prerequisite to be a Muslim. Someone who believes in Allah and claims to be a Muslim but does not fast is unthinkable. Fasting is, primarily, a sign and a manifestation of Islam. It is the best way to express our servitude, closeness and gratitude to our Lord. Abstaining from the most primary needs like eating and drinking, solely for His sake and to earn His content, is an indication of our sincerity. Fasting is a honest manifestation of servitude, the Prophet of Allah expressed this as follows:

“…By Him in whose hands my soul is, the smell of a fasting person's mouth is more beloved to Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person): ‘He abstains from eating, drinking and sexual relation only for my sake. Fasting is for me. I myself will give its reward. One good deed s rewarded tenfold.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 2)

Someone who fasts only for Allah with sincere feelings and free from riya (ostentation), he will receive unique rewards. It will take him on a spiritual journey within himself, turning him towards Allah in peace, he will feel closer to Him and receive his reward in abundance. He will taste the tranquility of fasting in his soul, feeling the mercy of Allah encompass him as he experiences something different spiritually. Therefore, one cannot ignore the spiritual joy and experiences of a fasting person and cannot simply reduce fasting to a state of hunger and thirst, such a definition is incorrect. The hungry body of a person does not prevent him from spiritual pleasure, in fact, it helps a person grow physically and spiritually by easing and tranquilizing himself. So the fasting person saves himself from the dominance of human desires and liberates his iradah (will).

Fasting in this sense is a "Will Training", Abstaining from basic needs with the purpose of attaining the Allah's content and saying no to the desires of the soul calls for a strong will. Fasting requires a person to fully control his desires, to pass the test of patience, and control himself in accordance with certain principles. Fasting, from this point of view, is a great opportunity for humans to control their will, strengthen himself, and discipline himself physically and spiritually. A person will taste personal peace when he makes use of this opportunity as is due, he'll notice the positive effects of every fast he performs and refresh his confidence. A person who experiences the ambiance of Ramadan trains himself by fasting, far removed from any form of conflict; he will sense that his negative sides disappear in the feelings of peace, sukunah (tranquility), waqar (dignity) and taqwa (piety). 

For fasting;

purifies,

cleans, 

trains,

changes, 

dignifies and 

protects.

Indeed, fasting protects us from all kinds of evil, just like a shield. Our beloved Prophet;

“Fasting is a shield (which protects its owner). Let the fasting person not speak without respect and good conduct. When someone wants to fight or abuse with him, he should say "I'm fasting" twice..." (Bukhari, Sawm, 2).

Fasting protects a person from evil, sins, and devilish and carnal desires. These words of the Prophet prove that the fasting ritual does not only consist of hunger and thirst. Besides the daily acts of worship, the fasting person should be attentive of his conduct and manners as well. When one controls his hand, tongue and heart and brings his carnal desires to its knees does ones fast gain a meaning. Otherwise, if a person can not prevent his tongue form giybah (backbiting), lying, speaking bad; nor protect his heart from envy, nifaq (hypocrisy) and insincerity, nor abstain from mistreating others and hurting them; then his fast is definitely not a shield for him. And, as the Messenger of Allah said, the person will be left with his hunger and thirst only.

“Many people who fast are left with nothing but their hunger. And there are many people who stand for qiyam (standing posture) during the night and are left with nothing but sleepless nights.(Ibn Majah, Sawm, 21) 

Fasting has a soul as well. To understand that soul, one should approach the worship of fasting with ikhlas (sincerity) and piety, for the sake of Allah without differentiating between fasting and good manners. Rituals performed carelessly without giving it its due right are vile for people and Allah alike.

“Allah has no need of a person who abstains from eating and drinking but doesn't abstain from lying and deceiving.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 8)

Fasting helps a person on his spiritual path and improves his relations and interactions with other people. Someone who fasts, even if for a short while, understands the value of the blessings he abstains from much better. And appreciates the value of such blessings by experiencing hunger and thirst. This will give him an opportunity to have empathy with those who are deprived of primary needs. Fasting helps people who live with more than they need, and compete with each other with greed and selfishness while drowning in extravagance. To understand the difficulties of the deprived and the people who live in poverty. Practices of social aid and solidarity during the month of Ramadan in particular -like zakat, sadaqah, and charity- contribute to this awareness. Hereby does fasting improve a person's awareness of his own self and the people around him, letting him to be a more sensible person psychologically and sociologically.