fasting may serve as a school in which people train themselves to forsake what is forbidden and to carry out what is obligatory. When an entire month passes while a person is safeguarding his religion—shunning the unlawful and performing his duties—that experience will alter the very course of his life.

For this reason Allah made clear that the wisdom behind fasting is taqwā (God-consciousness). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When any one of you is observing a fast, let him neither indulge in indecent talk nor act sinfully.” In other words, he must not commit a prohibited deed or utter a prohibited word. “If someone insults him”—that is, reviles or curses him—“or tries to fight him, let him simply say, ‘I am fasting.’” By doing so he avoids the helplessness that comes from retaliation and makes it known to his adversary, “Were it not for my fast, I would have answered you in kind.” Thus he remains honored, not humiliated; his only humility is before Allah in worship and obedience.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Whoever does not abandon false speech”—meaning any unlawful utterance—“and acting upon it”—that is, unlawful deeds—“and ignorance,” as another wording states, meaning aggression toward people, “Allah has no need for him to leave off his food and drink.” Indeed, Allah has no need for him to abstain from eating and drinking, for the Almighty imposed fasting for the most important purpose: giving up the forbidden and fulfilling the obligatory. Allah is the One who grants success.