The Economic Times | March 26, 2025

Two Hadith illustrate the true spirit of Ramzan, the month of fasting. The Prophet forbade believers of engaging in uninterrupted fasting (Sahih Muslim). He also said, 'Beware of continuous fast. Beware of continuous fast' (Al Muwatta).

The focus of this month is to train the believer. It is not to accumulate rewards by increasing the number of fasts observed, because if that were the case, the Prophet of Islam would not have discouraged continuous fasting. The purpose of fasting is rather to be an annual refresher course, for training the mind of the believer, so that he may become a spiritual member of society.

Ramzan is considered a month of restraint when an adherent of Islam strives to foster good wishes and care for humankind and develops piety in himself. The Prophet once exclaimed, 'It is not good for a man upon whom Ramzan enters and then passes, before he was purified' (At-Tirmidhi). This purification is internalised for a lifetime as the believer undergoes 'training' fast for a specified period of time during Ramzan.

Abstinence from food and water is a symbolic act. It, in effect, represents a resolve that, just as we relinquish food and water for a month, we shall henceforth similarly abstain forever from any practice deemed as spiritually undesirable. While the 'training' fast lasts for a month, the 'real' fast continues for a lifetime. The meaning of the real fast is to give up negativity, malice and hatred for life. We must refrain from feeling offended by, and vengeful and negative toward, fellow human beings.