Muslim Woman

The month of ramadan is coming closer, that is why it is improtant to go over through its significance. Is fasting just about having sins forgiven and getting rewards multiplied in the Hereafter?  What about the problems of life here in this world?  Is fasting just a ritual or does it have some other significance? Modern Islamic scholars draw attention to the physical and spiritual benefits of fasting.  But since physical and medical benefits of fasting accrue to anyone who fasts, regardless of one's faith in God, it is obvious that the physical and medical benefits are not the primary purpose of fasting in Islam. What about spiritual benefits?  Since different religions have different concepts of spirituality, what does spirituality mean in Islam and how can it be developed through fasting? The proponents of other religions, including many Muslims, claim that spirituality is an individual and subjective experience. How then can one know that one's spiritual development is taking place due to fasting?  In addition, would a Hindu's or a Buddhist's spiritual development, due to fasting, be as significant as a Muslim's?  In fact, Buddhist monks and Hindu saints go through much more rigorous rituals than Muslims.  Does this mean that their spiritual development is of a higher level? Obviously, no Islamic scholar would be prepared to accept this. 

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Fasting in Islam is a means to becoming Muttaqi (the one who is not only righteous but completely following the laws of Quran). Yes fasting has health and spiritual benefits but we must never lose sight of the main goal of fasting. Month of Ramadan in Islam provides an environment for our collective training and development of character. The Ramadan fasting allow Muslims to test their integrity, tolerance & character. Since character building is a continuous process & Ramadan is repeated every year as a reminder and re enforcer. We must judge our accomplishments by the standards laid down by the Quran. We should not be under the false impression that our spiritual development is taking place while our life goes on as usual. We have to keep the life and efforts of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his disciples before us to know whether or not we are among the Muttaqoon (the one who is abiding the laws of Allah Almighty).

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Since the Quran prescribed fasting specifically in the
month of Ramadan, it is important to know the significance
of this special time. A special feature of the Quran is
that whenever it gives a command for action, it also
provides the wisdom behind it. It tells what the final
result of that action will be in this world, if it is
successfully carried out. In this way the Quran provides a
pragmatic test for people to see whether or not they are
moving toward that desired result.  Regarding fasting, the
Quran Surah 2 verse 183  says:  Self-control is a
prerequisite both for steadfastness and fortitude in the
battlefield as well as for establishing a just and
equitable socio-economic system. In other words, in case
of a conflict between your physical drives and lofty human
values, you should uphold the latter. Furthermore, you
should habituate yourself to leading a hard and laborious
life. For this purpose fasting has been made obligatory
for you as it was for earlier communities, in order that
you may live according to the Divine Laws and protect
yourself from the pitfalls of life. Fasting is for a
prescribed number of days -as fixation of time itself is
an aid to disciplined life-

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