What does fasting tell us?

Etymologically, the word fasting (oruc) means “to refrain from something, to hold oneself back from something.” We know that food is among the things to be refrained from, but are there not other situations in life from which one should refrain and hold oneself back?

If we are to reduce fasting to a diet, we can answer this question in the negative. In that case, the purpose of fasting would only be meal times. According to this, God would have rearranged meal times on certain days. However, the acceptance of this situation is not possible. Because a human being is a creature in search of meaning; they are conscious, and their actions have a story, an internal meaning, and a reason. Life is found within that whole of reasons. In that case, fasting must have a meaningful depth that transcends food. God's intent regarding fasting certainly cannot be food.

So, what is this depth?

Let us begin with what the Prophet of Islam said about fasting. It is narrated that the Prophet said the following on this point: “Fasting is a shield that protects its owner. Let the fasting person not be disrespectful, let them not speak immorally. If someone tries to fight or swear at them, let them say twice, ‘I am fasting.’” (Bukhari, Sawm, 2)

I think we need to say a few words about these statements. We can generally define respect as “the sum of words and behaviors that show people they are cared for and valued.” Looking from this perspective, all behaviors, policies, and practices that devalue people, alienate them from life and their country, and damage their sense of importance can be seen within the sphere of “disrespect.” Indeed, respect is not a phenomenon that only finds meaning within the individual living space. Sociologically, the equivalent of respect is the prevalence of a whole of level-headed, meaningful relationships and that policymakers at least carry out work in this direction. Therefore, it would not be possible to talk about “respect” in a place where social rules are violated. Returning to the aforementioned narration, the meaning of fasting is also respect; it is refraining from immoral speech, verbal or physical fighting. Therefore, we cannot understand that someone is fasting only by the meal time they have postponed; if it is to be lived with its meaning, if they are living and keeping those values alive, then the fast is being kept in the true sense.

In another statement also claimed to belong to the Prophet, it is said: “There are many who fast whose fasting is only hunger and thirst. There are many who rise for worship at night whose rising is only sleeplessness.” (Ibn Majah, Siyam, 21) If the purpose of fasting were only hunger and thirst, and the purpose of worship were only sleeplessness, I do not think the Prophet would have used the word “only.” These words point to the values and meanings that should accompany both fasting and worship. It should not be difficult to find the place the sign points to: not being arrogant, not lying, not being prone to waste and ostentation, and of course, not using public property for one's own interests, not being unjust, and observing the rights and laws of others. We can certainly extend this list, but we believe the point has been made.

Then let us continue.

It is necessary to see that fasting, faith, and religion find meaning in the direction of a purpose. The opposite leads a person to unconsciousness, where neither fasting nor worship remains.

At the beginning of our article, we said that fasting must have a depth that transcends food; indeed, it is so. And the issue here is not that this depth is experienced only on certain days, or that human attitudes and values are protected only on certain days. The issue is the formation of an awareness during the days of fasting and the continuation of this awareness throughout life. Because the meaning of fasting or faith cannot be grasped with periodic or seasonal understandings. As a whole, a person should constantly educate themselves toward the good and the beautiful throughout their life and make an effort for this. Fasting can be seen as one of the important points of this process. Otherwise, we encounter a situation like not lying, not breaking hearts, or not being unjust only while fasting, but doing these things when the fast is over, which would be a great insult to both faith and human reason. If a person is to be good, they must be good at all times; reserved days do not lead to goodness, but to deception and ostentation.

Ali Shariati says of fasting that it is “not kept for one day, but every day.” Because what is actually kept is the right of the servant; this right should not be violated, and there is no time or minute for this. Its duration is a whole lifetime.

If you ask whether fasts are generally kept with this consciousness and understanding, unfortunately, it does not seem possible to answer this question positively. At least the current indicators, the situation the world and the religious (or those who appear so) are in, tell us this. The injustices prevailing everywhere in the world, wars, exploitation policies with ever-deepening depths, government actions that make one search for justice with a candle, lost values, lost spiritual bonds, and the situation of humanity as a whole tell us this. “What is being kept is only food; there is not much room left for virtue, honor, and wisdom at these tables,” say the events. Yet, if kept properly, fasting has a spirit that would shed light on life and humanity and serve as a model. If kept properly, it has a reality that would hold a mirror to the self, ambitions, and passions. Perhaps in this aspect, fasting could be a tool like a school or a teacher. What is sad is that the general situation prevails in the opposite direction, and the conscience regarding religious identity is relieved by fasting adjusted to meal times. This is such a relief that a person can commit every evil and every sin and as if pay their penance for it with fasting or a similar act of worship. Fasting is the indicator that they are religious; they supposedly relieve their mind and heart this way, and they build their social persuasion mechanism from here. This results in the gradual dissolution of the religion being practiced and, furthermore, the facilitation of the evils to be committed. This is committing crimes while appearing religious and putting religion forward when it comes to questioning. It is the instrumentalization of religion and the covering up of crimes with religion. It is the disappearance of religion while fasting is being kept.

At this point in our discussion, we must certainly state this: When the values that should shed light on humanity are condemned to darkness, one must first get rid of that darkness. If the meaning of fasting, faith, or religion is also being destroyed by some, one must first face this and clear this minefield to enter the path of meaning. Because where meaning is lost, there is no value left to hold onto.