From a Muslim point of view—
1. Ramadan is the name of one of the months of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during this time is compulsory for Muslims. Failure to do so is a terrible sin, unless exempted due to poor health or other legitimate reasons. Out of 130 major obligations commonly believed to be incumbent upon all Muslims, 31 of them pertain to fasting. One for the belief in fasting as a pillar of Islam, and one for each day’s fasting during Ramadan.
2. When you fast, you abstain from the intake of any substance into the body and sexual relationships during daylight hours for the 30 days of Ramadan.
3. Voluntary fasting is also encouraged, except on the 2 main annual Muslim holidays (Id-al-Fitr and Id-al-Adha), and Fridays.
4. Originally, the only obligatory day of fasting was Ashura (10th day of 1st month, Muharram). Before Islam, people of the Prophet Muhammad’s tribe observed it; also Arabian Jews observed it as the Day of Atonement (Sahih al-Bukhari 2:662; 3:118,222,223). When the Fast of Ramadan was made obligatory, the Ashura fast became voluntary, although the Prophet continued to observe it.
5. Fasting is connected with various things including self-restraint, forgiveness of past sins, cure of lice, honour in heaven, diminishing of sex drive, and making distance from hellfire.
6. The Prophet fasted 2 days each week, Monday and Thursday, the same days observed by Pharisees of Jesus’ time (Lk. 18:12; see Expositor’s Bible Commentary note on Mk. 2:18).
7. The person who best modeled fasting according to Islam was King David, who fasted on alternate days, i.e. six months out of the year (Sahih al-Bukhari 3:197).
From a Biblical point of view—
1. In the life of Israel, fasting was most common in relationship to times of calamity or danger.
| Reference | Occasion | Outcome |
| Deut. 9:18,19 | Worship of the Golden Calf | Tablets of the 10 commandments broken, but destruction of Israel averted |
| Judges 20:26-28 | Loss of many lives in civil war | Victory over the evil in Israel |
| 1 Sam. 7:2-6 | Ark of the Covenant possessed by Philistines | Judgment and defeat of Philistines (ch. 5-7) |
| 2 Sam. 12:15-25 | Sickness of David’s child resulting from sin with Bathsheba | Death of the child; later, the birth of Solomon |
| 1 Ki 21:27 | Prophecy of judgment on wicked King Ahab | Judgment postponed |
| 2 Chr 20:3 | Impending attack of enemy army | Enemy army destroys itself |
| Ezra 8:21 | No protection from robbers in travel | Safe arrival at destination |
| Neh 1:4 | Broken walls of Jerusalem | The king of Persia sends to repair walls |
| Est 4:3 | National edict to kill all Jews | Tables turned against enemies of Jews |
| Jonah 3:5 | Impending destruction of Nineveh | Destruction averted |
2. Fasting is also a sign of mourning, as in the grief displayed at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:12). This is why Jesus’ disciples were not encouraged to fast while he was with them. Their time to mourn would come when he was crucified (Matt 9:14-15).
3. Fasting is sometimes associated with the beginning of a new work of God, such as the giving of the Law (Deut 9:9), the start of Jesus’ public ministry (Matt 4:2), the sending of missionaries (Acts 13:2-3), and the appointment of church elders (Acts 14:23).
4. More than any other religious discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. We cover up what is inside with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface. Perhaps more than anything else, fasting is a way to humble oneself in God’s sight. Check these verses out–
5. In what ways might the following verses be able to relate to fasting?
George King
