The real essence of fasting
Heavenly Food
Blessed are the ones who seize the opportunity of Ramadan. They improve themselves and they become closer to Allah. The ayahs of fasting were revealed in the 2nd year after Hijra in Madinah when it became an obligation to fast for the whole month of Ramadan. It is our chance to rejuvenate and refresh our souls.
Allah mentions the aim of this form of worship is to become mindful of Allah and increase in obedience. People often assume that obedience means praying, but if someone who is regular in their salah and even competing to be in the front row of the mosque is not earning halal income, they are failing in their obedience. Obedience is not restricted to worshipping Allah, it means complying with Allah’s commands in all aspects of your life. It is to live by the word of Allah.
Ramadan is the opportunity to extend our obedience to Allah. Salah has a limited duration, but a fast is continuous through the day. It means that our worship is extended because we have to be careful what we say, see or do. We should have control over whims and desires throughout the year, not just in Ramadan, but in Ramadan our attention is more focused. Taqwa of Allah extends beyond salah and fasting, but salah and fasting help us become closer to Him.
Obedience does not end with salah
We have different forms of ibadah, not just praying, but also not cheating people is ibadah, being kind is ibadah, being merciful is ibadah and supporting the oppressed is ibadah.
Obedience brings us closer to Allah
Fasting brings us closer to Allah and Allah mentions that He is closest to us in the verses of fasting, because when you are fasting you are demonstrating obedience to Him while you are fasting.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ
When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near. (2:186)
Earthly food vs divine food
We are saturated by earthly food and junk food outside Ramadan, so we should be longing for heavenly food in Ramadan. Heavenly food nourishes our soul and nurtures us. We should be seeking this to nurture our heart and soul, this increases our connection with Him. we should not be feasting in Ramadan. Do not compete on how many dishes you can put on your table. Cut down on your food. Seek the food that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
عن عائشة رضي الله تعالى عنها قالت: نهاهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الوصال رحمة لهم، فقالوا: إنك تواصل؟ قال: “إني لست كهيئتكم، إني أبيت يطعمني ربي ويسقيني ” ((متفق عليه)).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited his Companions out of mercy for them, from observing continuous fasting without a break. They said: “But you observe fast continuously”. He replied, “I am not like you. I spend the night while my Rabb provides me with food and drink“. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Just as Maryam (peace be upon her) was provided with sustenance from Allah, the Hawariyyun (disciples of Jesus) sought a heavenly table spread.
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنࣲ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنࣰا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِیَّاۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَیۡهَا زَكَرِیَّا ٱلۡمِحۡرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزۡقࣰاۖ قَالَ یَـٰمَرۡیَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَاۖ قَالَتۡ هُوَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَرۡزُقُ مَن یَشَاۤءُ بِغَیۡرِ حِسَابٍ
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and brought her up a good upbringing and entrusted her to the sponsorship of Zakariyya . Whenever Zakariyya entered upon her in the sanctuary, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, how did you get this?” She said, “It is from Allah; indeed, Allah provides whomever He wills without measure.” (3:37)
The disciples of Eesa (peace be upon him) asked for a heavenly table spread to strengthen their faith:
إِذۡ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِیُّونَ یَـٰعِیسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ هَلۡ یَسۡتَطِیعُ رَبُّكَ أَن یُنَزِّلَ عَلَیۡنَا مَاۤىِٕدَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِۖ قَالَ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ
And recall when the disciples said, “O Jesus, son of Mary, can your Lord bestow upon us from on high a table spread (with food) from heaven?” He said, “Be mindful of Allah, if you are believers.” (5:112)
They sought this miracle not just for physical nourishment, but to strengthen their conviction and certainty:
قَالُوا۟ نُرِیدُ أَن نَّأۡكُلَ مِنۡهَا وَتَطۡمَىِٕنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعۡلَمَ أَن قَدۡ صَدَقۡتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَیۡهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِینَ
They said, “We want to eat from it, and so that our hearts are serene, and to know that you have told us the truth, and to be of its witnesses.” (5:113)
Allah became well pleased with them, and they became well pleased with Him.
Based on the reflection delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim at Tarawih on 1st Ramadan -1st March 2025
- The 13 quantities of the people of the lofty chambers of Paradise
- Are surrogacy and IVF permitted in Islam?
- Racism is never the answer to any problem
- Is it permissible to wear snakeskin in Islam?
- What is the difference between Islamic mortgages and conventional mortgages