(Part 1)
By Naib Zakari
Fasting: The Path to Attaining Taqwa
Once again, the blessed month of Ramadan has arrived, the month of Allah’s mercy, during which the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained. It is a month in which even the breathing and sleep of a believer is counted as an act of worship. This month offers an exceptional opportunity to turn inward, reflect upon oneself, and build a lofty fortress of piety within one’s soul.
In the very first verse where Allah Almighty commands fasting, He elucidates the profound philosophy behind this great act of worship:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ».
Translation:
“O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous (taqwaful).”
The ultimate goal of fasting is to attain the highest degree of taqwa. Taqwa is a state of continual vigilance and inner mindfulness that protects a person from disobedience and guides them toward the obedience of Allah Almighty. Fasting, this unparalleled act of worship, serves as a practical training ground within us to cultivate and strengthen this precious quality.
The Noble Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (PBUH), says in a luminous hadith: «الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ»؛ That is, fasting acts as a shield. It is like a protective gift that guards a person from sins and, ultimately, saves them from the fire of Hell.
Just as a shield protects a warrior on the battlefield from arrows and blows, fasting protects the believer on the battlefield of the soul, from the desires of the self and the whispers of Satan, safeguarding them against sins and wrongdoing. This shield does not only guard against sins but also serves as a protection from the fire of Hell.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) says in another hadith:
«مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَجْهَهُ عَنْ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا».
That is, there is no servant who fasts for a single day in the way of Allah, but that Allah Almighty distances their face from the Fire by a span equivalent to seventy years. Fasting creates a protective distance between us and the Hellfire, providing the great salvation that every believer seeks.
But how does this shield protect us? Fasting weakens rebellious desires through hunger and thirst, while strengthening the human will. Whoever refrains for a month from lawful pleasures, such as food, drink, and intimacy with one’s spouse, will be better able to stand firm against unlawful acts even after Ramadan. This consistent practice firmly establishes the “queen” of virtues, taqwa, within the believer.
The purification of the self, which is the fundamental goal of this series of lessons, is impossible without such practical exercises. Ramadan is a month of self-discipline and self-training, a time to discipline the soul so that it may be cleansed of impurities. As the traditions report, the best form of jihad is the struggle against one’s own self, and fasting serves as the true battlefield for this greater jihad (jihad-e-akbar).
So let us, in this blessed month, seize this golden opportunity with pure intention and strong resolve; let us lay a firm foundation of taqwa within ourselves and free our souls from the chains of bad habits and sins, so that by the end of this month, we may continue the journey of life with a purified heart and a fully prepared spirit.
We must not forget that fasting is not merely about refraining from eating and drinking. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH)said:
«مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ».
Translation:
Whoever does not refrain from false speech and wrongful deeds, Allah Almighty does not need them to abstain from food and drink. True fasting is the fasting of the limbs: the eyes fast from looking at what is forbidden, the tongue fasts from lying and backbiting, the ears fast from listening to vain or sinful matters, and the heart fasts from everything that displeases Allah Almighty.
So let us observe complete, conscious, and wholehearted fasting in this sacred month, so that we may savor the sweet fruit of taqwa not only during Ramadan but throughout our entire lives.