General

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

In the chapter Al-Baqarah (The Heifer) of the Quran, believers are enjoined to fast during the month of Ramadan, fasting being one of the five pillars of the religion of Islam. The translation of the relevant verse is as follows:

Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves against evil. (The Quran, 2:183) 

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Fasting, a form of divine worship is observed for one month every year. During this fast man abstains from food and water from sunrise to sunset in obedience to the command of God. This act is performed in order to reduce man’s materialism and increase his spirituality, so that he may be able to lead a truly spiritual life in this world. In the process, he spends more time in the worship of God.

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan 

Fasting is prescribed once a year, in the month of Ramadhan. One fasts every day of the month, from the first light of dawn until sundown. During that time, one abstains completely from food and drink. According to the Qur’an, there are two purposes of fasting (The Quran, 2:183,185): Firstly, to make one cautious in life and secondly, to make one thankful to God.  

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

According to Islamic teachings, Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijra calendar, is the month of fasting. In this month, believers refrain from food and drink for a limited period each day, that is, from dawn till sunset. They eat and drink during the night. This practice continues for one month.

What is fasting? Fasting does not simply amount to observing hunger for a temporary period. In fact, it symbolizes a lifelong culture, that is, a culture of dedication.