Spiritual And Physical Benefits Of Fasting

Editor’s note: This article examines and states some of the physical and emotional benefits that Muslims can enjoy during this Ramadan period bearing in mind the already promised rewards by Allah. it convinces Muslims that their fasting is not just a duty to Allah but personal benefits are inclusive.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com.

 Story highlights:

––“By fasting, a sort of spiritual medicine is provided for a weak soul”

—“Many medical practitioners have come forward to state and affirm that the level of health conditions like diabetes, obesity, haemerrhoids and some other diseases often decrease during fasting”

— “He avoids polytheism, lowers his gaze and desist from all manners of vices that weakened his spirit before he started fasting.”

In the minds of a lot of people, they believe that there is a supernatural power that directs the affairs of man. To some, if this supernatural power is favourable to them, then their physical life will be okay. Conversely, if a person is facing a particular physical challenge, then it’s possible this supernatural power is not favourable with the person’s well being. Ditto to note that the life of a man has a combination of spiritual and physical orientations as typified with soul and body.

READ ALSO: How To Maximize The Rewards Of Ramadan

Fasting shows the relationship between the spiritual and physical aspects of man. While being spiritual to some people is to have a good relationship with someone’s creator through purification of the heart using religion thereby leading to an unexplainable joy and rest of mind. Since man is often interested in the elevation of his spiritual and physical processes, the response to this is provided by fasting as Muslims do during Ramadan.

Muslims on planet earth do know that fasting provides one of the best platforms for them to uplift their souls and spirits. Therefore, they are in ecstatic mood when fasting begins. This is as a result of the various benefits they are anxious to get.

By fasting, a sort of spiritual medicine is provided for a weak soul. A weak soul is a person who reluctantly communicates with Allah. However, he suddenly becomes re-invigorated when he starts fasting. All the strange weaknesses that used to weigh him down vanish as a result of the spiritual benefits of fasting. He avoids polytheism, lowers his gaze and desist from all manners of vices that weakened his spirit before he started fasting. He seeks Allah’s mercies and favours during Ramadan and is granted, especially during night prayers and when he is about to break his fast.

This is further buttressed as Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated in a Hadith in Jami’ At-tirmidhi that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon his soul) said that, “on the first night of Ramadan, the devils are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of fires are shut such that no gate among them would be opened. The gates of paradise are opened such that no gate among them would be closed, and a caller calls: O seeker of the good; come near! And o seeker of evil; stop! For there are those whom all Allah frees from fire. And that is every night (of Ramadan).”

It is vividly clear from the above that the spiritual benefits of fasting painted in the quoted Hadith is particular only to Ramadan.

READ ALSO: Are You Really Ready For Ramadan?

The physical benefits of fasting are numerous. Many medical practitioners have come forward to state and affirm that the level of health conditions like diabetes, obesity, haemerrhoids and some other diseases often decrease during fasting. For instance, a person fasting abstains from all forms of eating and drinking for at least 13 hours everyday. In this case, there is nothing like junk foods to eat. Junk foods do lead to a rise in blood cholesterol level. This in turn blocks the blood vessels, thereby predisposing the individual to obesity, hypertension/cardiac arrest and possibly stroke. Also, taking sugary and alcoholic drinks could expose the individual to haemorrhoids/diabetes and liver cancer respectively. People fasting are less prone to come up with these conditions as fasting burns away sugar and fats very fast.

In conclusion, the benefits of fasting can not be over-emphasised. This brings to the fore the story of a young Muslim during last year Ramadan. He was suffering from chronic haemorrhoids before fasting began. As he started fasting from day one to day five, his haemorrhoids went in without taking any drugs and he never had haemorrhoids afterwards.

 

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