What It Means To Fast

ASSALAMU`ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAH

I am not a professional preacher, and the urge to be one is indispensable. Although I speak no faster than a six-grade boy, that is, a bit mumbling and scattered; I really do want to play my part. SO here I am, writing about fasting. Hope this will somehow, benefit readers.

Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, without the practicing of which, will never make a human, a Muslim. Fast- or sawm in Arabic- is a commandment a Muslim should always carefully observe in not just safeguarding his eeman (it should be closely reminded that, the word 'faith' is not enough in explaining the phenomenon of eeman) but sanctifying his body and and renewing the way he heeds his lust. By this technical definition, it is fair to say that the month of fasting is more rather a phase in changing oneself, than just getting hungry and thirsty.

If you are to look at the symbolic of fasting, you will be amazed with the magic of this  holy practice. Ibn `Arabi pinpointed that fasting injects strength to our whole, physical existence; making way to only and only goodness. Perhaps it is not too late to look at his definition, just to be contextual with his idea: fasting it the repelling of ego which always commands badness, and also fasting as a way to reject all physical desires, that will, in turn, chastising the practitioners.

When we fast, we are obliged to keep ourselves away from several things; talking back, lying, looking at sexually-arousing matters, saying bad things and even doing those unholy deeds which we may be doing in the months before and after Ramadhan. Failure to do this- according to al-Fadhl Ustaz Ibrahim (my favorite preacher) will destroy one's entire fasting rewards (`ajr). So you see, this is where Islam wins so many, compared to other religions which commands fasting as a religious duty.