Fasting can bring us many benefits. Physically, we are discovering how it can help us improve our health. But, we also have a plethora of spiritual benefits for us to reflect upon. Below is a list of some of the benefits we can obtain during this Month.
When we restrict our food and drink intake, our senses are heightened. This allows us to be more connected to ourselves, from our speech, to our thoughts and ideas. Understanding ourselves better gives us a better direction and allows us to make better decisions.
In the Quran, Allah highlights the importance of self-reflection:
Make the most of self-reflection with a positive foundation. When you think of your journey in this dunya, you should always try and remind yourself of Allah’s plan for your life and His decree in every matter. This helps immensely when you try to understand why life has unfolded for you the way it has and how to navigate through its uncertainty and mystery with hope in the possibility of the best outcome always.
It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). By reciting more regularly, in private or in the Taraweeh prayers, we have a better opportunity to understand the Words of Allah.
Try to learn the tafseer to one of your favourite surahs and your love for the Quran will blossom.
One of the beautiful aspects of Ramadan is the Taraweeh prayers. This is a special aspect exclusive to Ramadan. It was a revived Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) by Umar (ra). As a result, we Muslims build stronger bonds of brotherhood by praying in congregation.
One of the virtues of fasting in the month of Ramadan is our eagerness to give to those who are suffering, domestically and around the world. The Prophet (saw) was the most generous in the month of Ramadan. By fasting in this month, and having a restriction from food and drink, we can focus on the noble consequence of charity. Empathy for the poor. If we realise that the Rizq of the ones suffering is written with one of us, we develop a stronger inclination to give. Charity never decreases our wealth, we are always recompensed as Allah has promised, and this can be in many facets of our lives.
One of the biggest virtues we experience in Ramadan is that of self purification and developing your Islamic personality. This yields great virtue for the one seeking to come closer to Allah. In this endeavour we learn how purification through repentance can yield beautiful results. Taubah (repentance) acts like a polish for the heart. Making it a goal to seek forgiveness for your shortcomings can transform the trajectory of your heart by allowing you to focus inward and knowing the internal beauty is far more virtuous than the external. Through the restriction of food and drink, you can examine what really matters in the greater goal of our lives.
