There are many aspects in fasting as\nit has many material and spiritual effects on mankind, but perhaps the most\nimportant effect is the \u201cmoral aspect\u201d\u200c and \u201ceducational philosophy\u201d\u200c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One who fasts should prevent eating\nand drinking despite hunger and thirst in addition to control lustful desires.\nOne has to prove that he is different from the animals and he is not chained by\nfood and other worldly things; and that he can control his desires and rule his\nlust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, one of the most important\nbenefits of fasting is that one\u2019s soul softens, strengths determination,\nbalances natural desires and most importantly the spiritual and moral outcome.\nThe example of mankind who has access to any kind of food and drinks and can\ndemand so whenever needed, is like the tree that has been protected with walls\nof a garden from winds and storms and given adequate water from any drought.\nObviously such tree wills not standing any change to environment and inclement\nweather condition as it has never had such conditions; and it wills eventual\ndie. On the contrary, the tree that grows on the rocks of a mountain or in the\nmiddle of a desert learns to cope that environment from early days and grows\nwith certain rough conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fasting does the same thing with body\nand soul of mankind. With temporary limitations the body as well as the mind\nlearns to be strong and manage the needs; and when desires are under control,\nthen the soul will enlighten and spiritually improve. Further, fasting will\nascend humans from the world of animals to the world of angels; the sentence\n\u201cthat you may learn self-restraints\u201d\u200c in verse 183 of al-Baqara (The Cow)\npoints this very fact after commanding the faithful to fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) says in\na famous narration: \u201cFasting is a shield against the fire of Hell.\u201d\u200c (1)And in\nNahj al-Balaghah, when Amir al-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) explains the philosophy of worships,\nhe describes fasting in this manner: \u201cAllah (SWT) has commanded fasting to be\nin religion to develop purity in people.\u201d\u200c (2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in another narration Amir\nal-Mu\u2019minin (PBUH) asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP): \u201cHow can we make Satan\ndistant from us?\u201d\u200c The Great Prophet (PBUH&HP) replied: \u201cFasting makes\nSatan\u2019s face black [from panic] and charity for Allah (SWT) breaks his back;\nloving for the sake of Allah (SWT) and consistent good deed will cut off his\ncontinuity and repenting cuts the vein of his heart.\u201d\u200c (3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, the month of Ramadan has\nbeen chosen for fasting because this month has is the most important month.\nAllah (SWT) explains the reason for importance of this holy month in verse 185\nof al-Baqara (The Cow) as the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed; this\nbook is the ultimate guidance (Furqaan) for mankind which means it\ndistinguishes the correct act from incorrect in his life time and ensures\nsalvation of mankind. There are many narrations that other holy books such as\nTorah, Gospel, Psalms and the Holy Quran have been revealed in this holy month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, the holy month of Ramadan\nhas always been the time of descent for holy books and it has always been a\nmonth of education and growth. Because there cannot be any education without\nproper guidance. Hence, the educational aspect of fasting should be followed\nwith deep understanding and divine guidance so that the body and soul of\nmankind can wash away the dirt of sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed we would be at grave loss if we\nallow this golden opportunity to flee out of our hands without beautifying our\nsouls in the pure month of Ramadan. Now\nthat we are in the beginning of the path, let us beware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom \u201cTafsir Nemone\u201d\u200c(4) by Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi, with certain changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd website congratulates all\nMuslims around the world, the arrival of the Holy Month of Ramadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Usul al-Kafi,\nvol.2, p. 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Nahj\nal-Balaghah, Short words No. 252<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Al-Ja\u2019fariat,\np. 58<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Verses 183 to\n185 of al-Baqarah<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are many aspects in fasting as it has many material and spiritual effects on mankind, but perhaps the most important effect is the \u201cmoral aspect\u201d\u200c and \u201ceducational philosophy\u201d\u200c. One who fasts should prevent eating and drinking despite hunger and thirst in addition to control lustful desires. One has to prove that he is different […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248,28437],"tags":[25628,20636,25631,25627,25630,18480,18418,25629,22623,25566],"class_list":["post-4982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","category-the-holy-month-of-ramadan","tag-2008-09-02","tag-drink","tag-eat","tag-educational-aspects-of-fasting","tag-effect","tag-important","tag-occasion-letters","tag-perhaps","tag-philosophy","tag-the-holy-month-of-ramadan"],"yoast_head":"\n