Section on Fasting and Its Corollaries

1 – Allah, Exalted is He, says: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become God-fearing” (al-Baqarah 2:183), and further on: “so that you may complete the number, and magnify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful” (al-Baqarah 2:185).

• The Exalted One reminds His believing servants of His favor in obligating fasting for them just as He obligated it for the previous communities, for it is one of the great ordinances that benefit humankind in every age. In this is an exhortation for the Muslim community to compete with other nations in hastening to observe it and to perfect it, and a clarification of its universal benefit and fruits—benefits of which no nation can afford to be deprived.

• He then states its wisdom in His words: “so that you may become God-fearing.” Fasting is among the greatest means of attaining piety, for it entails obedience to Allah’s command and avoidance of His prohibitions. Thus fasting is the surest path to that goal, in which lies the servant’s happiness in his religion, his worldly life, and his Hereafter.

Accordingly, the fasting person draws near to Allah by foregoing his desires, preferring the love of his Lord over the love of himself. It is for this reason that Allah has singled out this act from among all deeds, attributing it to Himself in the sound hadith (1). Indeed, it is one of the greatest foundations of God-consciousness.