Another Ramadan: Fasting or Feasting
By Sheikh Alie Kallay
Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali explains that there are three degrees of fasting. Ordinary fasting involves abstaining from food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. Extraordinary fasting requires keeping all one’s senses and limbs free from sin, including the eyes, ears, tongue, hands, and feet. Perfect fasting is the fasting of the heart, focusing entirely on Allah and disregarding worldly concerns; it is the level achieved by Prophets, saints, and the true friends of Allah. Thinking excessively about worldly matters or even planning for the breaking of one’s fast may diminish this spiritual fasting.
Special fasting involves six inward requirements. First, one must see nothing that displeases Allah, avoiding sinful or distracting sights. Second, one must speak nothing that displeases Allah, guarding the tongue from lies, gossip, backbiting, obscenity, and idle chatter, while using it for remembrance of Allah and Qur’an recitation.
Third, one must hear nothing that displeases Allah, avoiding listening to sinful speech or eavesdropping, since remaining silent in the face of backbiting makes one complicit. Fourth, one must guard the limbs, keeping hands, feet, and all organs away from sinful deeds, while consuming only lawful food when breaking the fast. Fifth, one must avoid overeating at the time of breaking the fast, as overindulgence defeats the purpose of hunger and self-restraint. Finally, fasting must cultivate moderation and spiritual awareness rather than just physical abstinence.
The secret nature of fasting is to weaken the forces of Satan that lead humans back to sin. It is essential to control one’s appetite, sleep, and bodily desires while engaging in night prayers and reciting the Qur’an. Fasting is meant to purify the heart, strengthen self-discipline, and develop piety. On Laylatul-Qadr, the Night of Destiny, the heart must be completely focused on Allah, emptying both stomach and mind of worldly distractions to fully receive the blessings of this sacred night.
At the end of each day, the believer should balance fear and hope, wondering whether their fast will be accepted or rejected. Ramadan is a spiritual race where those who dedicate themselves sincerely will prosper, while neglect leads to spiritual loss. Fasting is not only a physical abstinence from food and drink but a holistic discipline of the heart, mind, and body, aiming to achieve devotion, self-control, and closeness to Allah.
