Fasting is a fairly common element in religious traditions, one of the spiritual practices designed to purify individuals and bring them closer to their spiritual source. The intention in this study is to look briefly at fasting within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Fasting can include total abstinence from food and drink, or from food, drink, smoking, sex, and other indulgences, or it can mean partial fasting, which involves reducing one's intake of material goods, including food and drink.
Both Judaism and Islam are more rule oriented than Christianity, and this is reflected in their consideration of fasting. Within Islam, fasting is a major element in the tradition, since it is the central component of one of the five pillars of Islam. This pillar is termed the Pillar of Fasting (Sawm) and involves prescribed behavior for one month each year. The month of Ramadan (which is movable in the calendar) is considered to be the month during which Muhammad received his first revelation. Thus, Muslims are called to honor this month in its sacredness. One of the ways in which they honor it is by adhering to a strict fast. They are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual relations during any of the daylight hours during the month. From sunrise to sundown, they are involved in fasting. Although they have large meals before sunrise and after sundown, this is still a demanding time of fasting (Hill, knitter, and Madges, 1997). It has several different purposes.
Besides the association with Muhammad, the time of Ramadan is a period for reflection, during which the individual is to become closer to Allah. The focus is on submission to Allah, along with increasing connection to the community of Islam. In addition, it is a way of identifying with the poor and hungry in the world, to develop greater compassion (Esack, 1997).
While part of the fast of Ramadan involves the memory of Muhammad and that first time of ...