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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fasting and the Holy month of Ramadhan Fasting - A Body/Mind/Spirit Healing Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an: “And seek (Allah’s) assistance with Patience and Prayer; and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for those with full submission. Who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord and that unto Him they are going to return.

” 2:45-46 Numerous Prophetic traditions interpreted the ‘Patience’ in the Ayah as ‘fasting,’ which means fasting is the very first element of the spiritual journey to God. All the prophets in their spiritual journey have been seeking assistance with fasting. Prophet Moses “I had gone up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant which He had made with you; and I remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights without eating bread or drinking water.

Then the Lord gave me the two stone tablets..”[^1] Prophet Jesus In his spiritual journey was aided by fasting against the devil: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil, and after fasting 40 days and 40 nights he was hungry…”[^2] It also appears from chapter 5 of the Gospel of Luke that the disciples would frequently fast and pray.

Prophet of Islam The entire Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet of Islam in the holiest night of the holiest month of Ramadhan; the month of fasting.

“The month of Ramadhan in which the Qur’an is revealed.” 2:185 “Indeed, We revealed it (the entire Qur’an) in the night of Measure.” 97:1 According to many Hadiths, the Torah was revealed to Moses on the 6th of Ramadhan, Injil was revealed to Jesus on the 12th of Ramadhan, Psalms of David revealed to him on the 18th of Ramadhan and the Holy Qur’an in the Night of Qadr (most probably 23rd of Ramadhan).[^3] In other words, all revelations occurred during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Could it be any reason more important than the spirituality of fasting? Benefits of Fasting 1) Physical Healing It is quoted from the Prophet of Islam to have said: “Fast, you’ll be healthy”. An Egyptian pyramid inscription in 3800B.C also reads: “Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the three-quarters live their doctor!” The three fathers of Western Medicine; (Hippocrates, Galen & Paracelsus) prescribed fasting as the greatest remedy and the physician within.