Fasting - Its spiritual and physical significance

[Rehmat]

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, in order that you attain piety - Holy Qur’an 2:183

A great majority of 1.7 billion Muslims across the world would be starting their month-long fasting - from sunrise to sunset - on August 31 or September 1 (depending on the sighting of the Moon).

Fasting at different times and practice was prescribed in all known major religions - not only for spiritual purification but also for physical enhancement. Many reformers, physicians and healers in the past are known for recommending fasting as therapy to recreate health, such as, Plato, Aristotle, Yogis, Monks, etc. etc.

Biblical prophets, such as, Moses, Elijah, Daniel and Jesus (as) are known for observing fasting each year. Jews though observe ten days of repentance, starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yum Kippur - but the religious Jews fast only for one day - on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31). On this day, Jews fast for 25 hours, from sunset on the previous day until sunset on the next day. During that period, Jews are not allowed to drink, eat or work for living or having sexual relations or bathing or using oinments and wearing leather shoes. In addidtion to Yom Kippur - some Jews observe fasting on four other days as part of their tradition. Synagogue is also empowered to impose additional days of fasting in case of some misfortune falling on Jewish communities, such as, femine, etc.

Jesus (as) commanded his disciples to fast (Matthew 6:16) - which must be similar to Jewish fasting as Jesus (as) never proclaimed to preach a new religion - but Moses Law. However, like several other teachings of Jesus (as) were deleted or changed by the Church - Fasting was changed to avoid eating meat for a few days or in some cases eat one meal a day during the fast. However, Christians are allowed to drink during fast. Lent, the 40-day fast - observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and followers of some other Christian denominations - to mark Moses’ receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28); Elijah encountering God before anointing of Elisha (I Kings 19:8), and Jesus’ (as) wondering in desert of Judea and tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:2).

In Hinduism - the purpose of fasting is to denying physical needs for the sake of spiritual gains. Hindus are required to fast twice each month on the 11th day of lunar fornight (Ekadasi).

In Islam - fasting carries both spiritual and social significance. Fasting during the lunar month of Ramazan is obligatory on all adult Muslim men and women. However, sick or travelling or women having their monthly period - are excempted - but must observe the number of days of fasting they missed in other months or feed a needy person for that many days.

According to Islamic teachings - the fasting Muslim not only abstains from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual activities during sunrise to sunset - but also abstain from lying, backbiting, useless argument, cheating, taking human life (other than fighting Jihad), and spreading rumours and ignorance.

Rehmat’s Weblog

[CastleStormer]

Fasting works! It is the most amazing way I know to recharge spiritually and seek God.

[shiloh]

Fasting by starving ourselves is salvation by works, our own efforts. It takes away the finished work of the cross and means we get to heaven by our own merits rather than by what Christ has done.
The fast that the Israelites and Jews did was according to law- their religion and the law of the Israelites was done which made salvation by debt, that is, if you fasted, obeyed the law and religiously obeyed all the religious observances, then you would be good enough to be saved. By your own efforts you justify your right to be in Heaven.

BUT, God never intended that we suffer for Him by starving ourselves. The true fast He seeks of us is the fast from SIN. Even the Jews were commanded of this. But they strayed from the truth of the scriptures and turned them into doctrines of men. Laws that constricted the freedom God intended for His children and gave priests rule over God's chosen.

Very rarely, a people are told by God to fast. It happened once, long ago in my church and the church was blessed. But fasting does not do anything usually, except save on the food bills and washing up.

[CastleStormer]

Sorry Shiloh, but you are just plain wrong. Why did Jesus fast??????? Why did Paul fast????

Nobody is talking about getting saved by fasting. But reread what I wrote in my earlier post.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

[shiloh]

OK, here's some scriptures for you to 'hang your hat' on;
then you can tell me when jesus fasted as the only time he did was in his time of trial. He didn't do it to 'increase his spirituality'. And here is a comment that Jesus made:
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Luk 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?


Luk 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?


Luk 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.......
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If we indeed be Christians, then the fast that we do is not from food.
Because the bridegroom is yet within us.
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And in Isaiah:

Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?


Isa 58:6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?


Isa 58:7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?


Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

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Our fast is to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus.

[CastleStormer]

Never mind. Don't want to fast...don't.

[shiloh]

I agree. If it feels good, do it.

Much better than obeying God.