In the holy month of Ramadan, besides satiating spiritual thirst and exercising ethical codes, people will have to decrease social strata and bridge the gap between rich and poor. It stresses equality among all layers of society – especially between the haves and have-nots. It is believed that social reasons behind fasting are more salient than individual ones.
Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and for the same end. No sociologist or historian can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan. People have been crying throughout the ages for acceptable belonging, for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have met.
Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is a time to give ourselves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with. In hectic times, such as ours, this valuable time to think about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed! It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one’s moral and spiritual assets and liabilities.
Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social and humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else in sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and responding to their needs. “It is the month to visit the poor, the sick, and the needy to share their sorrows. It is the month where the food, sustenance and the earnings of a believing Muslim increases and they are blessed,” says Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) a man who was known for his noble humanitarian causes, for social justice, and for being the first to respond to other’s needs, despite the fact that he himself lived a very simple and humble life. It is only during such a trying time as Ramadan that we can reflect on the condition of those in this world who may not be as fortunate as us.
Fasting elevates the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It strengthens our will-power as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to master their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their emotions. Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over- or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above their carnal passions. “A fasting person empties his stomach of all the material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution”.
When we remain thirsty and hungry in Ramadan we experience the affliction that the poor and needy people of the society experience the whole year. Therefore, fasting is a way of bridging the gap between the different classes and in and out groups in the society. While fasting, the poor and the rich are all equal in the eyes of Allah and wealth does not matter in Allah’s eyes. As it is rightly said, “Allah does not look at your wealth and your body; in fact He looks at your deeds.” This very feeling helps the poor to overcome the “inferiority complex.” On the other hand, the rich also realize the truth of the world and feel themselves equal to the poor, hence eliminating pride and “superiority complex.”
Besides spiritual cleansing, fasting has numerous, scientifically proven, benefits for our physical health and mental well-being. The time, length and nature of the Islamic fast all contribute to its overall positive effect. One of the medical benefits is a much-needed rest to the digestive system. The reduced food intake during the day allows the body to concentrate on getting rid of harmful dietary toxins accumulated as natural by-products of food digestion throughout the year. Moreover, as a general note, it has been observed that underfed animals live longer than their heavily fed counterparts and suffer fewer illnesses during their lives.
Overall, the month of Ramadan intends to revive moral standards, religious values and social norms. It injects new blood into the society so as to energize ethical mores. The individuals should change their natural character into good one and practice it in their whole life. Likewise, Muslims must learn unity, social solidarity and brotherhood and discard from all evils and harming their human fellows.