By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | The Speaking Tree | May 23, 2020

Fasting is an exercise in self-discipline. During the month of Ramzan, the believer abstains from food and drink in the daytime of his own free will. It is only after sunset that he satisfies his hunger and quenches his thirst. In this way, he builds up his self-control. By practising restraint for one month in a year, he is able to lead a life of self-discipline in all matters for the rest of the year.

Apart from man, there are innumerable other things in the universe, all of which- having no free will of their own- adhere strictly to God's law. Man, however, is not in the same category as these things, for God has given him the freedom to choose the path that he wants to tread. Notwithstanding this divine gift of freedom of will, it is still the desire of the Almighty that man should, by his own choice, tread the path of obedience.

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It is, therefore, to condition him to follow the path of restraint that the rule of fasting has been laid down. Not just an annual ritual, fasting is a form of training undergone every ninth month of the Muslim year.

It is not just a matter of temporarily enduring hunger and thirst, it is a lesson in the permanent practice of patience and tolerance throughout one's entire life.