Levels of fasting
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root word ‘Al-Ramadh,’ which means excessive heat. It also means burning sins. Abdullah bin Umar (RA) said, “Indeed Ramadan was named so because sins are burnt in it.” (Imam IbnAsaakir). This year, Ramadan has occurred just before the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Out of Allah’s mercy and grace, Ramadan cycles throughout all seasons in 33 years or so.
We are all well aware of the concept of fasting and what it means to fast during the month of Ramadan. What many people don’t know is that there are actually three levels of fasting. Below we will discuss those levels in detail. Fasting, as we all know, is an integral component of Islam and among the pillars of Islam (acts that characterize a Muslim). There are three levels of fasting - they are:
(A) The fast of the masses, which entails abandoning food, drinks and satisfying one’s carnal desires during the daylight hours. Allah (SWT) says in Al-Hadeeth Al-Qudsi describing the situation of a fasting person: “... he abandons his food, drinks and enjoying his conjugal rites because of Me. Therefore, fasting is for Me and I am the one to determine the nature and amount of rewards for a fasting person.” The majority of the Muslims fall under this category. Our long-sought goal should be to keep Allah (SWT) in our minds all the time with the realization that He watches over us all the time. The ordinary fast is the most basic level of fasting and pertains to controlling the desires of the stomach and other bodily needs. This is the minimum requirement for fasting to be considered successful.
(B) The fast of special people entails not only abstaining from sensual pleasures, but also includes keeping one’s eyes, tongue, hands, feet, the senses of hearing and seeing, as well as other parts of the body away from committing sins. Abu Huraira narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever doesn’t abandon false speech or acting upon it, there is no need for him to abstain from food and drinks.” (Imam Al-Bukhari 1903).
In this Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) informs us that real fasting is to abstain from sins as much as possible. You can’t claim you are fasting yet
you tell lies or give a false testimony or commit any other sin, for that matter. On this issue, Jaber bin Abdullah (RA) said, “When fasting, your ears, eyes, and mouth - among others - should shun lying and committing other sins. Moreover, there should be a change in you when fasting. In other words, you should be a better person when you are fasting than when you are not. Moreover, fasting should be a training course for you to become a reformed person (Al-Bayhaqi and IbnAbiShayba).
(C) Fasting of the créme de la créme, which entails keeping one’s heart away from lowly aspirations and motives as well as thoughts that would keep one far from Allah (SWT). Anyone in this category should be pre-occupied with things that please Allah (SWT). Once, Umar’s wife prepared a sumptuous meal after buying the ingredients from her own savings. After preparing it wholeheartedly, she served it to him. He told her that he would not touch it until she invited all the poor people to share it with him. This was a great lesson in empathy that we learn during the month of Ramadan, which we have to observe even after Ramadan. Umar by this - demonstrated that he was much more preoccupied with pleasing Allah (SWT) than satisfying his carnal desires. This is the highest level of fasting, which is reached by fulfilling the first two levels of fasting and then going a step further.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. As Muslims, we should all strive to attain all these three levels when we fast. Each level accrues to us so many rewards from Allah (SWT).
Why was fasting during the month of Ramadan given preference over other acts of worship? For two reasons: - It is a secret and an intrinsic act of worship; no one sees it except Allah (SWT) and the fasting person, and it can’t be tainted by dissemblance. When carrying out other acts of worship, people see us. However, no one can tell for sure whether someone is fasting. Someone may claim to be fasting yet when he is secluded in a room or any other place, he eats and drinks when and where only Allah (SWT) can see him.
- By fasting, a Muslim actually conquers the devil, which capitalizes on food, drinks and other carnal desires to lure human beings into committing sins. By fasting, the devil is restrained in that it is no longer active in one’s blood stream. Al-Hulaimi (a scholar and pious man) said, “All acts of worship are performed either by doing some actions or avoiding some shameful deeds. Fasting restrains the act of satisfying one’s carnal desires illicitly; and this in itself represents patience.
On the other hand, doing acts of worship that are required of us requires a lot of patience. Therefore, fasting is half of patience (and this explains why Ramadan in some instances is referred to as the month of patience).” (Mukhtasar Minhaaj Al-Qasideen 44). - There are a lot of benefits that accrue to a Muslim who observes the fast, especially during the month of Ramadan. Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of faith in Allah and expecting rewards from Him, will get all his previous sins forgiven.” - Fasting was also prescribed to the people before us - albeit differently: Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may earn piety (guarding yourselves against sin and in the long run against Allah’s anger and punishment.)” (2: 183)
Points to ponder
(1) Allah (SWT) informs us in the verse above that fasting was also prescribed to those before us in order to comfort us, since there is some difficulty in it. He also wants to avert some complaints from some people with weak faith who would ask: Why did Allah (SWT) single us out by commanding us to fast? It is also an indication that inasmuch as Allah completed His bounties and favors upon us, He also completed them upon those whom He willed among the generations that preceded us.
(B) The phrase “so that you may gain piety,” implies that fasting is a shield that keeps us away from committing sins- the act that, if well observed, will keep us away from the Hellfire. - Al-Hasan bin Ali (RA) said, “Allah (SWT) made Ramadan a field track for His servants to compete in earning His pleasure by obeying Him; some people excelled in that and thus became victorious, and others lagged behind, thus becoming the unfortunate losers.” So try this Ramadan to be one of those who excel and become victorious!