Why Muslims Fast
Fasting:-
Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam, it is an act of worshiping Allah, Allah obligated fasting of one month every lunar year, this month is called Ramadan upon:-
Every adult reasonable Muslim.
Fasting means to quit food, drink, and sexual activities every day in Ramadan from Dawn to Sunset, fasting in Arabic is called “Sawm”.
Allah says in The Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 183:-
“O you who have attained faith, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may become mindful”.
Niyyah “Intention”, it is a must before a Muslim fast in Ramadan that he intends to fast before Dawn for the sake of Allah, it is enough to intend fasting with your heart, you should also eat before starting the fast.
Prophet Muhammad PUBH taught us that there is a special door into heaven that is especially for those who fast, in The Day of Resurrection, only those who fast will enter this door.
Ramadan is the month in which The Holy Quran has been revealed to The Prophet Muhammad PBUH, Allah says in The Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 185:
“the month of Ramadan in which the Holy Quran was sent down as guidance for mankind, and as evident explanations of the guidance and criterion. So whoever of you witnesses the month, then he shall fast it.”
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: “Whoever fast the month of Ramadan, out of sincere faith and anticipation of Allah’s reward in the hereafter, will have all his past sins forgiven.”
In Ramadan, it comes The Night of Decree “Laylatul-Qadr”, this night is very special as Allah says in The Holy Quran chapter 97 verse 3 “The Night of Determination is better than a thousand month”, worshiping Allah in this night is better than worshiping Allah for one thousand month of any other month.
Fasting helps the Muslim to focus on his worship leaving his desires aside in total obedience for Allah, fasting raises piety and righteousness of our souls and trains us to avoid sins and control our whims and desires.
What breaks my fast?
1-Food and drink, however if one forgets that he is fasting and ate or drank his fast is still valid.
2-Sexual activities including masturbation and any intentional emission of semen, however wet dreams or sexually exciting dreams don't break the fast.
3-Vomiting intentionally, however involuntary vomiting doesn’t break the fast.
4-Post-Natal bleeding and menstruation, a woman must not fast in those days, however any brown or yellow drops that come after those days end doesn’t break the fast.
If a Muslim broke his fast for any of those reasons then he/she must compensate for those days by fasting them after the month of Ramadan.
Who is Exempt from Fasting?
1-Sick people with a medical condition that will be worse with fasting, however they are obligated to make up for those days after the month of Ramadan.
2-People who cannot fast due to old age or are sick with no chance of recovery.
3-Travelers, however they must make up for those days after the month of Ramadan.
4-Menstruating women and women with post-natal bleeding, however they must make up for those days after the month of Ramadan.
5-Pregnant women and breast-feeding women if there is a fear of danger on them or their babies, however they must make up for those days after the month of Ramadan.
Intentionally Breaking the Fast!
Breaking the fast without a valid cause is a grave sin as it shows the disobedience to Allah, it is a huge that requires one to sincerely repent to Allah and make up for the fast days that he/she broke after the month of Ramadan.
Also those who have sexual intercourse during the fasting hours from Dawn to Sunset must sincerely repent and make up for this day, and additional to that, as a way to expiate for doing so they must free a slave, if they cannot find one as it is the case today, they must fast for two-consecutive months, if they are unable to do so then they have to feed sixty poor people.
Voluntary Fasting:-
It is recommended for the Muslims, as long as they are able to do so, to fast on other days to gain more reward from Allah, and these days includes The Day of Arafah:-
It is the ninth day of the lunar month Dhul-Hijjah in which Muslims can perform Pilgrimage, in that day all pilgrims gather on the mount of Arafah, praising and glorifying Allah, those who are not performing Pilgrimage may fast this day, Prophet Muhammad PBUH said when he was asked about fasting this day:” It atones for the sins committed the preceding year and the coming year.”