Significance of Ramdan fasting!

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Fasting during the month of Ramadan, as laid down in the holy Quran, is the fourth pillar of the faith. According to the Quran, this entire month is ordained for fasting and abstinence by all adult Muslims.

According to the Quran, the fast of Ramadan has been instituted so that believers may cultivate piety. The fast during Ramadan begins each day at dawn and ends immediately at sunset. During the fast period, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke and make love. Before retiring for the night, special congregational prayers are offered in which long passages from the Quran are recited.

The Prophet was reported to have said that “when Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened"
The month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for one to do the deeds that could bring him/her to Paradise
Fasting is also an opportunity to atone for one's sins. Prophet Mohammad has said “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah will have all of his sins forgiven". Fasting also provides protection from evil for those who sincerely fast.

In fact, Ramadan fasting is a stage where the human being is the closest to God. The fasting period, Ramadan is a time when one submits to spiritual and social changes.

Medical Benefits of Ramadan :
Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits, which are of a secondary nature. Fasting has been used by patients for weight management, to rest the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as of crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. The calorie intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the nutritional requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.

Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. If the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, their effects will be long lasting. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities.

Ramadan fasting is a confidential act, which occurs between the human being and his Creator. This act must be impregnated with full sincerity and the deepest loyalty. Now in case fasting loses its honesty, it becomes a hypocrisy. Thus God says in hadith qudsi that "Fasting is for Me and I only will reward it".