Benefits of fasting

Benefits of fasting
Ali Imam Zaidi HINDUSTAN TIMES September 19, 2007

Fasting has great importance in different religions. It has been practised for centuries by Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews among others.

The Holy Quran ordains: "O, you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was to those before you, so that you may (learn) self-restraint." (Chapter 2, Verse 183)

Fasting is obligatory for Muslims in the month of Ramadan as well as for Hindu communities on the occasion of the Navratra. Fasting affects our life in many ways. The fast (except for diabetics, pregnant women and ill people) safeguards the body's health by protecting it against extravagance.

As medical science has proved, fasting is medicine for many bodily ailments. It balances the nervous system. Rapid and safe weight loss if achieved without flabbiness, by fasting. Energy levels and sensory perception are increased. The longer the fast, the bigger the increase in energy and vitality.

Fasting can increase confidence in our ability to have control over our lives and our appetite, as our body's self-regulating and self-healing organism capable or establishing balance when given the possibility to do so. The fast fosters a strong will; teaches patience and self-discipline, the ability to bear hardship and tolerate hunger and thirst.

In short, it brings about a clear victory over one's illicit desires and selfish impulses. It regulates, systemises and energies the instincts. Fasts teach the fasting person to abandon vices, control emotions, to curb the tongue against saying what is wrong or inappropriate and the conscience against contemplating wrongdoing.

Fasting is an effective cure for these usual habits. During fasting we are able to keep ourselves away from all types of bad habits. Thus fasting teaches us that we can worship Almighty God by doing what is commended by Him both during and after breaking the fast.