Imam Sadiq (PBUH) was quoted to have said...

Imam Sadiq (PBUH) was quoted to have said: “When you fast, let your ears, eyes, hair, skin and other organs also fast [2] .” In the first instance, it was documented that a man wrote a letter to Imam Askari (PBUH) asking him thus: “For what reason did Allah make fasting compulsory?” The Imam (PBUH) wrote in reply: “Allah has made fasting compulsory so that the rich shall find the pain of hunger so they have a mercy upon the poor [3] .” Similarly, it is also narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) in a well-known tradition that Hisham ibn Hakam asked him about the reason for the divine legislation of this ordinance when he (PBUH) said: “Allah has enjoined fasting in order to settle equivalence between the rich and the poor, and this is for the sake that the rich feel the taste of hunger and, consequently, be merciful toward the poor (by giving them their rights).

And, since the things are usually available for the rich, then Allah, the Exalted, is pleased when equivalence is erected between His servants. So, He, thereby, has ordained that the rich feel the taste of hunger and pain so that they feel sympathy for the weak and be merciful toward the hungry [4] .” It is obvious from these hadiths that fasting teaches the rich, who eat good, nutritious food and never suffer from hunger, what hunger is.

When they remain hungry and thirsty for just a period, they begin to feel and perceive the pain of hunger the poor members of society experience daily and hence they feel empathy for them. Consequently, the rich then desire to help the poor and needy, as fasting makes it possible for them to empathize with the poor and to see the hard and challenging conditions they live in.

On the other hand, due to the kindness and generosity of the rich, the poor are less likely to feel envy and hatred toward those who are better off. Thus, a change of attitude on both sides can occur. The enmity between both social strata can be brought to an end in this way with peace and security prevailing in society.

It is pertinent to mention that the idea of restoring social justice, security, and peace in society is quite a difficult task but it can be achieved by implementing the pristine teachings of Islam. It is possible of course, that explaining the status of the hungry and the deprived to the rich, will make them understand that status, but if this condition becomes perceptible and objective, it will react more effectively.