Written by Wishing all my Muslim readers a Ramadan Mubarak. May Allah grant you all an elevated position in nearness to Him and accept from all of you your acts of worship during and after this holy month.
Fasting is an exercise of worship that resets the body, mind and spirit to a base level so that man can once again be appreciative of God’s bounties such as food, drink and sex. Hence, Muslims abstain from these things from before the sun rises to after it sets. This abstinence of otherwise lawful things also helps the believer to better stay away from the unlawful things through the rest of the year. If you can stay away from those critical needs for an entire month during the daylight hours, then you can stay away from adultery, fornication, gambling, drinking, backbiting, slander, lying and cheating.
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. — M. Pickthall 2:185
Make your fasts count as much as you can by trying to reform all evil ways, bad habits and bad manners. It is part of faith to be fair, kind and charitable. These are all qualities we can work on throughout our lives to better ourselves until we meet our Maker.
