Health Benefits of Ramadan (THE MUSLIM FASTING MONTH) Fasting

Health Benefits of Ramadan (THE MUSLIM FASTING MONTH) Fasting

Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

1. Purification of body from toxins
2. Reducing of weight
3. Purity of brain
4. Rejuvenation of body
5. Living of life with happiness
6. Looking younger

Most Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Qur'an. The medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting.

Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets.

Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.

Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. If the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, it is beneficial for one’s entire life. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities.

The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.

The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension. In 1994 the first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting.

While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.

There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. ... This psychological improvement could be related to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after eating, aggravates behavior changes. ... Similarly, recitation of the Quran not only produces a tranquility of heart and mind, but improves the memory.
 

Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.
-Holy Qur'an 2:185 - Excerpts from Shahid Athar, M.D (Dr Athar's website is: http://www.islam-usa.com/)

33 Blessings of Ramadhan Fasting (Benefits): How many will you reap?

The benefits of the Ramadhan month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadhan to be throughout the whole year.

These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who are to fast with full faith and expectation.

These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan have been grouped and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary. It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Holy Quran and Hadith.

The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan:

01. Taqwa:  

1. Fearing Allah (SWT)
2. Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)
3. Accepting the little things that one has achieved
4. Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter
5. Self-discipline
6. Self-control
7. Self-restraint
8. Self-education
9. Self-evaluation

By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.

02. Protection:

1. Avoiding Immorality
2. Avoiding anger/outcry/uproar
3. Avoiding stupidity
4. Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram

By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human being in the society.

03. Revelation of Holy Quran: The Holy Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadhan. The Holy Quran is meant to be:

1. A Guidance to mankind
2. A Manifestation of right from wrong
3. A Summation and culmination of all previous revelations
4. A Glad-tiding to the believers
5. A Healer
6. A Mercy

04. Doors of heaven are open

05. Doors of hell are closed

06. Devils are chained down

07. Fasting with Iman (faith) and expectation: Such type of intention leads to forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual's sins.

08. Door of Rayyan: There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyan. It is for the fasting Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadhan are the ones to enjoy the bliss of Paradise inside that area.

09. Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:

1. When breaking fast
2. When meeting Allah (SWT) on the day of Judgment

10. Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the smell of musk during the day of Judgement. (Bad Breath)

11. Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers are to be stopped during fasting.

12. Ramadhan -to- Ramadhan: Whoever fasts two consecutive months of Ramadhan with good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the year.

13. Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good = 10x, 70x, 700x or more during the month of Ramadhan.

14. Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes care of the hungry, needy, during the last ten days of Ramadhan will receive equal rewards to the fasting person(s).

15. Blessing of Iftar: Dua is accepted by ALLAH (SWT) at Iftar time.

16. Blessings of Sahoor (The late night meal): This meal time gives the opportunity for:

1. Night Prayers
2. Zikr, Remembrance, Contemplation
3. Recitation of Holy Quran
4. Fajr Salat in Jamaat
5. Dua of Fajr

17. Night Prayers: Whoever performs the Night prayers with sincerity and good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.

18. Shafa'at (Pleading One's Case for Forgiveness): Whoever fasts Ramadhan will receive on the day of Judgement the Shafa'at of:

1. Ramadhan
2. Holy Quran

19. Ihya (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadhan. When a Muslim makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of blessings.

20. Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs Itikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan will get:

1. Blessings and rewards
2. Peace of mind
3. Contemplation and evaluation
4. Better citizen

21. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:

1. Forgiveness of mistakes
2. Better than 1,000 months
3. Dua
4. Zikr
5. Prayers
6. Reading Holy Quran
7. Rewards
8. Blessings
9. Better human being

22. Generosity: Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadhan.

23. Zakat al-Fitrah (Charity on Eid Day): The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

1. Purity
2. Feeding the needy
3. Sharing happiness
4. Improving human relations
5. Improving society

24. Sadaqah (Charity): The benefits of paying sadaqah are many. These are summarized as follows:

1. Purity
2. Flourishing of wealth
3. Improving economy
4. Circulation of wealth
5. Elimination of inflation
6. Elimination of poverty

25. Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

1. Purification of body from toxins
2. Reducing of weight
3. Purity of brain
4. Rejuvenation of body
5. Living of life with happiness
6. Looking younger

26. Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

27. Sharing: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

28. Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

29. Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.

1. Dua for the deceased
2. Preparing oneself for departure from this world
3. Feeling respect for the deceased
4. Making the person to be humble in his life

30. Every breath is Tasbiih. Every breath and even sleep is Ibadah and awarded.

31. Umrah in Ramadhan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadhan is:

1. Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage)
2. Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

32. Historical Successes and Victories in Ramadhan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during Ramadhan the month of fasting, among which are the following:

1. Battle of Badr
2. Battle of Khandaq
3. Opening of Makkah
4. Battle of Tabuk
5. Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe
6. Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders
7. Egypt and Israel, 1973 - Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadhan the month of fasting, etc.

33. Learning lessons from historical incidents that happened during Holy Ramadhan the month of fasting, e.g.

1. Wafaat Hazrat Khadijeh (as).
2. Wiladat Imam Hassan bin Ali (as).
3. Shahadat Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as).
4. Youm-al-Quds.