Fasting is called Sawm in Arabic, which literally means to be silent, to abstain. In Islamic terminology, the real meaning and essence of fasting is to spontaneously restrain the desires and hopes of the soul and to restrain one’s body, mind and soul from greed and lust. Generally, there are three places where the desires of the soul and human greed and ambition develop. Namely – food, drink and women. According to Sharia, fasting is the name of restraining and maintaining physical and spiritual relations from these three materials and means for a certain period of time.
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The verses of the Holy Quran clearly state that fasting is not only specific to the present Islam; rather, fasting was also considered a special part of religion in the schools of thought before the revelation of the Holy Quran. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared in a loud voice before the Arabs of the Dark Ages that fasting was definitely considered an obligatory act of worship in every religious belief in the world. But the oppositional community of the Arabs of that time and even some scholars of the present era believe that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not aware of ancient history. In such a situation, if the claim of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is proven to be true and correct in all respects, then there will be no room for hesitation in accepting that he must have occupied a higher realm of material knowledge. In order to prove the truth of this claim, we are presenting quotations from more authoritative books of Europe, which will be considered as sources for researchers. The author of the article on fasting in the Encyclopedia Britannica states, “Although the rules and methods of fasting vary according to climate, social system, and the evolution of civilization, we can hardly name a single religion in which fasting is not recognized as a religious practice.” He further states, “In fact, fasting is recognized everywhere as a religious practice.”
India is claimed to be the oldest place of religious development. If you look closely, you will see that the religions here were not exempt from this fast, that is, fasting. In the Indian calendar, the fast of Ekadashi was mandatory for Brahmins on the eleventh and twelfth days of every month. According to this calculation, a total of 24 fasts are found in the twelve months. Some Brahmins observe fast on every Monday in the month of Kartik. Hindu yogis observe Chilla, that is, they try to abstain from food and drink for forty days. The conditions of fasting are very strict in all religions of India, especially in Jainism. According to their beliefs, one fast is prolonged for forty days. In Gujarat and the Deccan, followers of Jainism observe fast for several weeks every year. Fasting is also seen among the ancient Egyptians as part of other religious ceremonies. Among the Greeks, only women fasted on the 3rd of Thasmo Pheria. Although fasting was not obligatory for the common followers of the Persian religion, a verse in their inspired book proves that the commandment of fasting was applicable to them. It was especially obligatory for religious leaders to fast for five years. (Encyclopedia Britannica: Vol. 10, pp. 193-94, 11th edition). Fasting was also an obligatory act of worship imposed by Allah among the Jews. Hazrat Musa (AS) spent forty days in the cave of Tur, hungry and thirsty. (Exodus: 34-38). Therefore, in general, fasting for forty days was considered good among the followers of Hazrat Musa (AS). But it was obligatory for them to fast on the fortieth day, which was the tenth day of their seventh month (Tashreen). (Torah: Safarul Ahbar: 16-29-34: 23-27). For this reason, this tenth day was called Ashura. And this day of Ashura was the day when Hazrat Musa (AS) was given the 10 commandments of the Torah. That is why the Torah strongly emphasizes the observance of fasting on this day. Hazrat Isa (AS) also fasted in the forest for forty days. (Matthew: 4-2). Hazrat Yahya (AS), who was a contemporary of Hazrat Isa (AS), also fasted and the custom of fasting was prevalent among his followers. (Mark: 2-18).
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The Arabs were more or less aware of fasting before Islam. The Quraish of Mecca used to fast on the day of Ashura (i.e. 10th Muharram) during the Dark Ages because on this day a new covering was put on the Kaaba in the house. (Musnad Ibn Hanbal: Volume VI, p. 244). The Jews living in Medina also celebrated the festival of Ashura separately. (Sahih Bukhari: Kitabus Sawm, Volume I, p. 162). That is, the Jews used to fast on the 10th day of the 7th month according to their own reckoning.
In the Holy Quran, all the facts and criteria of fasting have been clearly analyzed with just one word. That word is taqwa or piety. The facts of fasting and the special piety and piety of fasting have been adopted in the same way in all the religions of the world.
For this reason, the Holy Quran and other religions have linked this inner reality of fasting, declaring, “Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety and piety.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: Ruku 23).
In fact, the purpose and goal of fasting is to attain piety and piety. That is, to keep one’s desires under oneself and to keep oneself free from the intense influence of physical desires. This clearly shows that fasting has been made obligatory upon us as a kind of spiritual treatment. Not only that, but two specific features of fasting in Islam have also been mentioned in the Quran. The statement is, ‘That you may glorify Allah according to the way He has shown you and that you may be grateful to Allah.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah: Ruku-23).
