Encomium
As the sacred month of Ramadan draws to an end, the blessings and benefits of Ramadan Fasting are too many to be counted. Muslims during the month are advised to abstain from food, water, sex and vulgar talk between dawn to dusk for a period of one month.
Allah has promised to bestow upon Muslims who fast with full faith and expectations His blessings. With reference to the Holy Quran and Hadith, these blessings and benefits of Ramadan have been grouped and summarized into different categories.
“O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa” (Quran 2:183)
Taqwa here could mean different things – God consciousness, God fearing, piety, and self restraining.
However, a major difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food. During Ramadan, breakfast is taken very early, lunch is totally ignored and until dusk before anything is taken.
1.It helps to control addiction from sex, gluttony and drunkenness.
2.It helps us to leave a more decent life shunning arguments, vulgar talk and physical fighting of all sorts.
3.It helps us become more conscious of God, our prayers and His words.
4.It serves as a therapy for weight management, resting the digestive tract and for lowering lipids.
- It helps to lower blood sugar, cholesterol and the systolic blood pressure.
- It promotes fat breakdown and weight loss, improves your blood fat levels
- It brings peace and tranquility of the heart and mind for those fasting and the society at large.
- It reduces hostility and decreases the crime rate.
- Giving charity (sadaqah) improves economy, circulates wealth and eliminates poverty.
- Fasting is not only about self-denial, it is also a special spiritual act of worship between humans and God; God in His word says that “Fasting is for Me and I only will reward it”, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) also said in another hadith “If one does not give up falsehoods in words and actions, God has no need of him giving up food and drink”.
It is expected that the lessons learned and the spiritual and physical effects of Ramadan will be long lasting even after the holy month.
Seyifunmi Adebote for encomium.ng
