Inner Dimensions Of Ramadan And Fasting (Wisdom of Fasting)

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Shaykh Abu Madyan (may God be pleased with him) said: 'Oh People of Will, practice hunger, the fast of intimate union, solitude, and remembrance, for by the practice of hunger you will attain what you desire, you will see how the gushing springs of wisdom will issue forth from your hearts and your tongues, and by means of it you will arrive at your Lord.'

Shaykh Abu Madyan (may God have mercy upon him) said: 'I have examined the writings of the Prophets, the pious, the companions of the Prophet and their successors, and the scholars of past generations; yet I have not found anything that causes attainment to God Most High without [the addition of] hunger. [This is because] one who is hungry becomes humble, one who is humble asks, and the one who asks attains. So hold fast to hunger, my brother, and practice it constantly, for by means of it you will attain what you desire and will arrive at that for which you hope.'

Ibrahim ibn Adham (may God be pleased with him) was asked about union with God Most High, and said: 'Hunger and asceticism are one. He who is hungry abstains and he who abstains arrives; he who arrives attains and he who attains remains.'

Someone said to Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya (may God be pleased with her): 'By what is the Intimate united to God Most High?' 'By hunger,' she replied. So she was asked, 'Then what is hunger?' She replied: 'Hunger is the act of keeping the lower soul away from [sensual] delights. He who keeps his lower soul away from worldly delights attains his goal in the Hereafter.'

Fasting Is The Practice Of The Prophets

In Quran the verse that prescribes fasting also reminds us that it is a timeless spiritual practice and was prescribed to those who came before us.

In Exodus we find that: Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while he was on the holy mountain with Divine Presence.

We read in the New Testament in the life of Jesus Christ how fasting was part of his inner practice as well: 'Jesus went into deep retreat and seclusion in the wilderness where he fasted for forty days and forty nights. And the tempter came and whispered to him: 'if you are elect one of God, command these stones to become bread.' But Jesus answered: 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone...' (Matthew, Luke 4:1-4)

The spiritual wisdom of fasting is not limited to experiencing thirst and hunger, although experiencing thirst and hunger for God's sake alone is a worthy blessing and source of grace. Jesus Christ says in Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6).