Understanding the True Purpose of Fasting: Piety, Not Pain
Is the Purpose of Fasting to Inflict Pain on the Body?
A brother asked a question: does fasting get disrupted by staying in an air-conditioned environment, since one does not feel the pain of hunger and thirst? This question arises because some people think of fasting as a means to cause physical discomfort, and some preachers during Ramadan also state that fasting should make you so fatigued that you remember the needy and the poor. Furthermore, some consider using worldly comforts during worship, such as performing wudu with warm water, praying on a carpet, and fasting in air-conditioning, as detrimental to worship.
This brother’s question made me think about elaborating and informing people, based on details and evidence, that the purpose of fasting is not to cause physical pain but to achieve piety, which benefits both the body and the soul. Islam forbids causing harm to oneself and prohibits actions that harm the body. Allah says:
وَ لَا تُلْقُوْا بِاَیْدِیْكُمْ اِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ (البقرة: 195)
Translation: And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands.
Islam commands the protection of the body and all of its parts, and ensuring their rights are fulfilled so that the body does not suffer harm or injury. Even the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prohibited a companion from fasting every day. Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
يا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، ألَمْ أُخْبَرْ أنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ قُلتُ: بَلَى يا رَسولَ اللَّهِ، قالَ: فلا تَفْعَلْ، صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، فَإنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا۔ (صحیح البخاری :519)
Translation: O Abdullah! Was I not told that you fast during the day and stand in prayer all night? I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: Do not do that, fast and break your fast, pray and sleep, for your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, and your wife has a right over you.
Eating too much is also harmful and detrimental to health. Today, many people are falling ill and even dying due to overeating and consuming various kinds of food. The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also prohibited excessive eating to keep the body’s system in balance and prevent illness. Muqaddam bin Madikarb (رضي الله عنه) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say:
ما ملأَ آدميٌّ وعاءً شرًّا مِن بطنٍ، بحسبِ ابنِ آدمَ أُكُلاتٌ يُقمنَ صُلبَهُ، فإن كانَ لا محالةَ فثُلثٌ لطعامِهِ وثُلثٌ لشرابِهِ وثُلثٌ لنفَسِهِ (صحيح الترمذي:2380)
Translation: No human being fills a vessel worse than the stomach. It is enough for the son of Adam to eat a few bites to keep his back straight. If he must eat more, then let one-third be for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for breathing.
Considering the above points, we understand that Islam does not command us to do anything that harms the body, but instead commands the protection of the body and forbids inflicting harm on it. Fasting is not a means to cause harm to the body; it is an excellent system of food reduction with multiple benefits. On ordinary days, the intervals between meals are shorter, but during fasting, this interval is longer. At the same time, fasting provides nourishment for the soul, purifying the inner self and heart, which in turn has a positive impact on the body and character. In fact, a fasting person becomes so disciplined that his eyes commit no errors, his heart harbors no ill thoughts, and his hands, feet, and tongue refrain from causing harm.
Reflecting on the wisdom and benefits of fasting makes it clear that fasting is practiced to benefit oneself and others, not to inflict bodily punishment, as some people mistakenly believe. A certain group of Muslims, especially among the Sufis, consider physical punishment as a form of worship, which leads them to practice asceticism and engage in self-inflicting worship. However, Islam neither advocates asceticism nor permits harming the body through worship. As mentioned earlier in the hadith from Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prohibited a companion from fasting every day and staying awake all night in order to protect the body from harm.
Allah the Almighty mentions the purpose of fasting in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (البقرة:183)
Translation: O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.
Here, Allah mentions that the purpose of fasting is to attain piety (taqwa). The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also elaborated on piety, saying:
التَّقْوَى هاهُنا وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ (صحيح مسلم:2564)
Translation: Piety is here, and he pointed to his chest three times, indicating that piety is related to the heart, so that physical deeds are in harmony with a pure heart.
In the following verse, Allah mentions the ease of fasting, stating:
أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِّسْكِينٍ ۚ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (184)
Translation: [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [then] an equal number of other days. And upon those who are able [to fast] but with difficulty, they have [the option of] fidya, the feeding of a poor person. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But fasting is better for you if you only knew.
Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, so fasting is a mercy, not a hardship. This is clarified in the verse above: First, fasting is not obligatory throughout the entire year, but for a specific number of days. Second, it is obligatory on those who are sane, adult, healthy, and residing. Third, those who are not sane, not of age, sick, or traveling are not required to fast. There are further details on this.
- Non-intelligent and pre-pubescent individuals are not required to fast, but for training purposes, children can fast if they wish.
- Sick, travelers, menstruating, pregnant, and breastfeeding women are allowed to break their fast due to valid reasons. Later, when convenient, they can make up the missed fasts before the next Ramadan, as narrated by Aisha (RA): “كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَ إِلَّا فِي شَعْبَانَ” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1950).
Translation: “I used to have Ramadan fasts left, and I could not make up for them until Shaban.” - Those with permanent illnesses and elderly people who are unable to fast should pay a fidya (compensation) to feed a poor person for each missed fast, and they do not need to make up the fasts. The rules related to exemptions from fasting are evidence of the ease and mercy of fasting.
After this verse, the Creator of mankind clearly stated that His intention is to make fasting easy for us, not hard. Allah says:
“شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُومُهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ” (Al-Baqarah: 185)
Translation: “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month, let him fast; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”
Since the primary purpose of fasting is to attain Taqwa (God-consciousness), it is prohibited to engage in actions that contradict Taqwa while fasting. Even if someone fights or abuses a fasting person, they should simply say, “I am fasting.” Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ فلا يَرْفُثْ ولَا يَجْهلْ، وإنِ امْرُؤٌ قَاتَلَهُ أوْ شَاتَمَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ: إنِّي صَائِمٌ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِن رِيحِ المِسْكِ. يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ وشَرَابَهُ وشَهْوَتَهُ مِن أجْلِي الصِّيَامُ لِي، وأَنَا أجْزِي به والحَسَنَةُ بعَشْرِ أمْثَالِهَا” (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1894)
Translation: “Fasting is a shield, so let him not engage in obscenity or ignorance. And if someone fights with him or insults him, let him say, ‘I am fasting’ twice. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the odor of the fasting person’s mouth is better in the sight of Allah than the scent of musk. He leaves his food, drink, and desires for Me. Fasting is for Me, and I will reward it, and every good deed will be rewarded tenfold.”
Notice that Islam commands fasting individuals to avoid those who cause them harm, but cannot possibly instruct them to harm their own bodies. This Hadith shows that a fasting person abstains from food, drink, and desires for the sake of Allah, and fasting is a means to eliminate these desires. Based on this, those who cannot afford to marry are recommended to fast (see Bukhari: 5065). Yes, the longer fasting period in Ramadan compared to usual days may make one feel hunger and thirst, but this does not harm health. On the contrary, these feelings reduce internal ailments and purify the soul, which is the essence of Taqwa, the very goal of fasting.
Having a late pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and breaking the fast immediately after sunset (iftar) is also a way of easing the fasting experience for believers. Additionally, there are several other conveniences associated with fasting. The examples mentioned here highlight that fasting is not a burden or hardship, but rather a blessing and mercy.
Finally, it should be understood that the concessions provided for fasting individuals are there for us to benefit from. At the same time, we may also benefit from modern conveniences, as long as they do not contradict the principles of Shariah, such as using air conditioning. As mentioned in the earlier question, does using AC invalidate fasting? The answer is that this is a modern convenience that can be used without affecting the validity of fasting.
It would be beneficial to mention an action of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in this regard.
Abdurrahman bin Abi Bakr (RA) narrated that a companion of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“لقد رأيتُ رسولَ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ بالعرجِ يصبُّ علَى رأسِهِ الماءَ ، وَهوَ صائمٌ منَ العطشِ ، أو منَ الحرِّ” (Sahih Abu Dawood: 2365)
Translation: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (SAW) in ‘Araj, pouring water over his head while fasting due to thirst or heat.”
We ask Allah to bless us with the virtues and blessings of Ramadan, forgive our past sins through fasting, and grant us Taqwa in such a way that after Ramadan, we continue to act in accordance with His pleasure. Ameen.
By Maqbool Ahmad Salafi
Islamic Dawah Center, Masarrah, Taif