Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and a practice shared by every prophet throughout history, from Adam to Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon them all). In this comprehensive episode, Dr. Sam joins The Deen Show to explain the purpose, practice, and profound benefits of fasting in a way that both new Muslims and lifelong practitioners can immediately benefit from.
Why Muslims Fast: Obedience and God-Consciousness
The Quran states clearly in Chapter 2, Verse 183: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain God-consciousness (taqwa) and self-discipline.” Fasting is not meant to torture or deprive anyone. Rather, Allah in His infinite wisdom and mercy ordained fasting because He knows what is best for our bodies, minds, and souls. The ultimate goal is taqwa: a heightened awareness of the Creator that transforms how we live every moment of our lives.
Allah says: “Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain God-consciousness.” Every prophet fasted. Jesus fasted. Moses fasted. Abraham fasted. They all submitted to the one Creator, and they were all Muslim in the truest sense of the word.
What Makes Islamic Fasting Unique
- Allah specified the exact month (Ramadan), the exact number of days (29 or 30), and the exact times (before sunrise until sunset), giving Muslims the most disciplined and structured fast of any religious tradition
- All of the previous scriptures, including the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Quran, were revealed during the month of Ramadan
- Fasting trains Muslims to be the master of their desires rather than the slave of them
- Modern science confirms tremendous health benefits from fasting, including improved mental clarity, physical health, and internal cleansing
When Allah wants us to do something, He perfected it. He chose the month, fixed the days, set the exact times from sunrise to sunset. No other tradition in the world has disciplined its community in this manner. This is the precision of divine guidance.
The message of Ramadan is inseparable from the message of all the prophets: worship the Creator alone, not the creation. If you love Jesus, pray the way he prayed, with your forehead on the ground. If you love Moses, fast the way he fasted. If you love Abraham, submit to the One God the way he submitted. All of these practices converge in Islam, the way of life that preserves and perfects the teachings of every prophet who came before. Ramadan is not just a Muslim ritual; it is a continuation of the oldest and most universal act of devotion known to humanity.
