History of Fasting in Islam

History-of-fasting

What is Saum or Fasting?

 Saum is an Arabic word which means to abstain or to restrain from the normal things whether it be eating, drinking and talking.

But the word Saum in Islamic Shariah it means a person who does an act of worship and with intention he does it for the sake of Allah swt and he or she abstain from eating, drinking or nourishment as well as from sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset.

BUT it's not only abstaining the stomach and sexual part from the things that break the fast  it even means that along with the fasting of  stomach and the sexual parts there is fasting of the tongue of the eyes of the ears and the other limbs of the body .

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting). [ Sahih Al-Bukhari : 1903]

Fasting in Islam

Allah says in the glorious Qur'an: 

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُتِبَ عَلَیۡکُمُ الصِّیَامُ کَمَا کُتِبَ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَ

Translation: O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. [ Quran_2:183 ]

 Fasting is another fundamental ordinance of Islam . The other fundamental ordinances are prayer , zakat , and pilgrimage . Of course , fasting was exercised in previous revealed religions , but in Islam fasting is made obligatory and the time of fasting is specified.

 When a Muslims fasts , He fasts from dawn until sunset . This fasting includes abstaining from eating , drinking , and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset for a certain month of the Islamic calendar , i.e. , Ramadan . Fasting in Islam is meant to be a great spiritual exercise . A Muslim is hungry and the food is in front of his eyes and within his reach , but he does not eat because he is fasting in obedience to Allah . A Muslim is thirsty and water is everywhere around , but he does not drink because he is fasting in obedience to Allah . Food is available and water is available , but the Muslim chooses not to eat , though hungry , and chooses not to drink water , though thirsty because he is commanded by Allah to fast. The Fasting muslim is alone in his house with food and water very close to him and nobody seeing him, but he always feels that Allah sees him, so he eat no food, nor does he drink a drop f water.  

History of Fasting in Islam 

Like most of the rules of Islam, the obligation of fasting has been gradually imposed.  The Prophet pbuh initially instructed Muslims to fast for only three days, but these fasts were not obligatory.

Then in the year 2 Hijri , this commandment of fasting in Ramadan was revealed in the Qur'an, but it was so relaxed that those who have the strength to bear the fast and still do not fast should eat one poor person for every fast.  Open it  A second order was later issued and the general concession was revoked.  But for the sick and the traveler, and for the pregnant or lactating woman, and for the elderly who do not have the strength to fast, this concession was allowed to remain, and they were ordered to make up the missed qadha later when there was no excuse left.  Fast as much as you have missed in Ramadan.

Obligation of Fasting

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ فِیۡہِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ ہُدًی لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَیِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡہُدٰی وَ الۡفُرۡقَانِ ۚ فَمَنۡ شَہِدَ مِنۡکُمُ الشَّہۡرَ فَلۡیَصُمۡہُ ؕ وَ مَنۡ کَانَ مَرِیۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰی سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّۃٌ مِّنۡ اَیَّامٍ اُخَرَ ؕ یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ بِکُمُ الۡیُسۡرَ وَ لَا یُرِیۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ ۫ وَ لِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّۃَ وَ لِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰہَ عَلٰی مَا ہَدٰىکُمۡ وَ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ

Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed, which is a guide for mankind, and a clear teaching that shows the truth and makes clear the difference between right and wrong. From now on, whoever gets this month, he must fast for the whole month.  And whoever is ill or on a journey, let him complete the number of fasts on other days. Allah wants to be gentle with you, not hard.  Therefore, this method is not being explained so that you may complete the number of fasts, and acknowledge the greatness of Allah for the guidance with which He has exalted us, and be grateful.

Sexual Intercourse in Ramadan

It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah , so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous. [ Al- Qur'an_2:187 ]

Explanation: In the beginning, although there was no clear command that no one should have intercourse with his wife on the nights of Ramadan, but people in their mind thought that it was not permissible to do so. Sometimes they went to their wives as if it was a betrayal of their conscience and they1 feared that a criminal and sinful mentality would continue to grow in them. Therefore, Allah first warned against betrayal and then said that it is permissible for you. Therefore, do not do it now considering it a bad, but take advantage of Allah's permission and do it with full purity of heart and conscience.

Fasting while Traveling

Whether or not to fast while traveling is left to the discretion of man.  Some of the companions who traveled with the Prophet pbuh used to fast and some did not, and neither of the two groups objected to the other.  He himself has never fasted during his journey and has never fasted.  On a trip, a man collapsed and people gathered around him.  The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw this and asked: What is the matter?  It is from fasting.  He said: This is not good.  On the occasion of war, you used to stop fasting so that you would not be weak in fighting the enemy.  According to Umar, we went to war with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) twice in Ramadaan. The first time in the battle of Badr and the last time on the occasion of Mecca and both times we broke our fast. Ibn 'Umar narrates that on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet had said: In other traditions, it is said that income is worth less and less is more powerful. Lane is facing the enemy, stop fasting so that you have the strength to bring.

Benefits of Fasting on the day of judgement

The Messenger of Allah said: 

There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it. [ Al-Bukhari 1896 ]

The Messenger of Allah said:

 Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting. [ Al- Bukhari : 1904]

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