What is the purpose of a fast?

Question

why would someone choose to do a fast and what is supposed to come out of it?

Answer 1

It is a way to become closer to God. Depending on Him to get you through the day.

Answer 2

Many purposes. A lot of which have been covered already.

One of the underlying ideas behind most religions and spiritual concepts is self denial. We are asked to focus on others and their needs, and how we can be of service to them. This is difficult to do if we are constantly focusing on our own wants and needs.

So fasting is a symbolic gesture, it says I have the character to undergo a little sacrifice and discomfort for a greater end.

It may seem like a goofy thing to do, but people who cannot sacrifice anything willingly are miserable, because sacrifice is an ineveitable part of this world, and of the lives of those who are succesful in it.

Answer 3

There are many reasons for a fast to be called
Corporate Fasts can be for a group of people to
A. Repent of a Corporate Sin
B. Stand in for others Sins
C. Seek an answer to a specific problem
D. Prepare for a time to come

Single Fasts can be for all of the above and also just to get closer to God.

Answer 4

It teaches self discipline. Not only muslims do this. Hindus do it and some christians. Most africans do this on the daily. It was just thier way of life. But they can fast for days if they chose. Better than eating potato chips and getting high cholesterol problems. I myself only eat when I get hungry. Makes the most logocal sense to me.

But in islam, it is one of the 5 pilars. One must understand that this is a tradition that existed way before muhammad(pbuh) even existed. He did not invent this tradition to add to his doctrine. Even jesus fasted. It was just custom. Look at like this. America has existed for about 500 years, and islam has existed almost triple that. You do the math. And fasting was done by many in the eastern region of the world. It does not just exist in islam, but many cultures and religions. PEACE!

Answer 5

There are 7 fast days in Judaism--------that Traditional Jews follow.

It is to cleanse the body and soul, and become more in tune with G-d.

The main fast day is Yom Kippur. There is a closeness with the community when everyone spends the day in Synagogue, and all are fasting. I miss it. Due to a chronic illness, I cannot fast, and I do miss the feelings it gives.

Answer 6

Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, besides

1. Witnessing that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger
2. Praying 5 times a day
3. (Fasting)
4. Giving charity
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (if you can afford it)

We fast because Allah (s.w.t.) told us to fast to have more piety (Taqwa). Also fasting makes us healthier as the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Fast and you will be healthier". Fasting strengthens our self discipline and help us control our desires and actions. When we fast, we see the food, wish to eat it but can't, and hence can relate to the poor and needy who see the food and cannot buy it, which will motivate us to help the poor and needy.

Fasting also makes us appreciate the food and sustenance given to us by Allah (s.w.t.). In non-fasting days, many people get bored by seeing the same menu of food and forget to thank Allah (s.w.t.). During fasting, however, any food looks delicious and we get to appreciate all the food at sunset. The month of Ramadhan is also a very important unifying factor among Muslims. It brings the Muslims together until each community becomes like a family when eating together and praying together a great deal on daily basis.

Answer 7

fasting has positive effects on the human body and it is very benefitial to humans.However,islam teaches us to fast so that we can feel how it is like to be poor and not being able to eat.So it makes us feel how had it is the lives of people who cant buy bread like in Africa.But i must say that several muslims are not truely fasting.They fast all day and then eat a cow at night is this supposed to make u feel the poor life?i dont think so

Answer 8

Fasting is a means to spiritual growth. By denying ourselves some of the demands of the body we can better concentrate on spiritual realities. Also, fasting and other forms of voluntary self denial strengthen our will. People sin basically because they can't say "no" to their desires. Saying "no" to ourselves in non-moral situations strengthens our ability to resist temptation when moral decisions confront us.

Answer 9

Prophets observed extreme behaviours by individuals and their society at their time of prophecy.

Extreme behaviours can be simple over-eating, under-nourishment, jealousy, hate, oppression, exploitation, abuse, slavery, to be a slave , etc.

It is common sense to deduct that all prophets advised moderation, fairness, and balance !

So, where does the idea of fasting come from ?

Mambo Jumbo ?

Next interesting question is why people prefer Mambo Jumbo to reason ?

Answer 10

it gives u a feel of how the poor who can not eat and drink for days feel, we go with out food and water to experience how they feel and when we do open our fast we are supposed to limit the amount of food we eat we are not to stuff our faces. At the end of ramadan we give zakah (charity) to the poor, we must give this genorously, we also must sacrafice a sheep at the end of ramadan and give all the meat to charity. The food we eat on eid must be shared out to our neigbours at the end of the day.

Answer 11

Fasting is for the purpose of hearing form God, repentance and/or dying to self (in the face of temptation). The Lord LOVES fasting, as it is a symbol of submission and it is a strict focus on HIM. Fasting is not JUST denying onesself food...it is also a time of meditation, where one spends the entire time in communion with Him...meditating, praying, reading the Word...taking one's mind off of every day life and all other things. I'll give you case scenarios.

Hearing from God:
Something horrible has happened in my life, and I'm suffering, but I don't know what it's about or what the Lord is trying to teach me/show me. I pray, but I still get no answers. I fast until I hear from the Lord.

Esther 4:3
And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and FASTING, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

2 Corinthians 11:27
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Samuel 12:22
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

Repentance:
I go to the grocery store and get into a big confrontation with the cashier because she charged me too much money. I use all types of profanity, and I EXPLODE in the store, mad as ever... My behavior was out of line, I was a poor representative of Christ, and I sinned against a holy God. I repent, fast and pray for God's forgiveness.

1 Samuel 7:6
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

Dying to self:
I practice abstinence. If I find myself lusting in my flesh...thinking about sex far too much...I need to get my flesh under my subjection, so I fast and deny my body of something that it needs and desperately wants. Not only am I going to deny myself the food, but I will also prepare my meal (just as I would for myself) and feed it to the poor or someone in need. That'll teach that old flesh who's boss! *smile*

Matthew 4:1,2
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

What's supposed to come out of it is sanctification...strenthening in ones Christianity, a closer relationship with God, and confidence in one's faith.

God bless!