Fasting in Different Religions

Voluntary abstinence from food has been a spiritual purification rite

in many religions. Penitence, purification, mourning, sacrifice and

enhancement of knowledge and powers were some of the aims of fasting

envisaged by these religions. Even philosophers, scientists and

physicians of the past adopted fasting as a healing process needed to

recreate health where there was sickness. SocratesSocrates, PlatoPlato, AristotleAristotle,

Galen, Paracelsus, and Hippocrates all believed in fasting as a form of

therapy (Haas).
We find in scriptures such as the Bible, for example, prophets like

Moses, Elijah, Daniel and Jesus resorting to fasting for the sake of

spiritual purification as a means of communication with God. The Qur'an

also indicates that fasting is a religious practice common to the

religions of the past:

[O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed

for those before you, in order that you attain piety.] (Al-Baqarah

2:183)

Fasting in Judaism

The Jewish calendar contains comparatively few regular fast-days. Yom

Kippur (the Day of Atonement), is the only fast-day prescribed by the

Mosaic Law:

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh

month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and

do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger

that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an

atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your

sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye

shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever (Leviticus 16:29-31).

The Jews observe ten days of repentance starting with Rosh Hashanah

(the Jewish New Year) and ending with Yom Kippur (the Day of

Atonement). This is a time to consider the sins of the previous year

and repent.

Yom Kippur is the day on which Jews believe that the fates of all Jews

are to be sealed for the coming year. This day is held to be the most

solemn and serious day in the Jewish calendar, which involves grieving

for sins committed in the past year as well as praying for forgiveness.
On this day, Jews fast for 25 hours from sundown on the previous

evening until sundown the next night. To the Jews, fasting is more than

just refraining from drinking and eating: working on fast days is not

permitted, and having sexual relations and bathing, as well as using

ointments and leather shoes, are prohibited.

The fast begins with a special evening service known as Kol Nidre (All

Vows), and synagogue services last for the whole of the following day

until the fast ends.

It is also customary among many Jewish communities to fast on the eve

of New Year's Day: Rosh Hashanah.

Besides Yom Kippur, there were four regular fast-days established by

Jewish tradition to keep the memory of various sad events that affected

the Jewish nation during their captivity. According to some scholars of

the Talmud these fasts were obligatory only when the nation was under

oppression, but not when there was peace for Israel.

The Synagogue is also empowered to impose fasting in case of a

misfortune befalling the people, such as pestilence, famine, or an evil

decree enforced by the ruler of the day.

The Jewish fasts normally begin at sunrise and end with the appearance

of the first stars of the evening, (with the exception of Yom Kippur,

which lasts from sundown to sundown). The giving of charity on a fast-

day, specially the distribution of food necessary for the evening meal,

is encouraged (Jewish Encyclopedia).

Fasting in Christianity

From the sermon on the Mount, we know that Jesus instructed his

earliest disciples to fast:

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they

disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the

truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put

oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to

men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and

your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew

6:16).

It is obvious that the kind of fast prescribed by Jesus was already

familiar to the Jewish community, as there is no record that he taught

any change. Therefore, it must have been complete abstinence from food

and drink, as the above verses indicate. That is why he spoke of

putting oil on the head and washing the face so that the tiredness of

fasting may not be obvious to others.

Today, many Christians following the guidelines of the Church do not

practice this kind of fasting; they avoid eating meat for a few days;

or in some cases eat only one meal a day during the fast. And there is

no ban on drinks either. This may be because the New Testament does not

give any details as to how to fast.

Lent, which is observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and certain other

churches, is a forty-day period of fasting and penitence in emulation

of Jesus Christ's example in his fast in the wilderness (deserts) of

Judea.

The first main component of Lent is the obligation of abstinence which

applies to all older than 14. For Roman Catholics, abstinence means not

eating meat in any form, but not including fish. But there is also a

concept of "partial abstinence", meaning eating meat only once per day.

On three occasions in the Bible, people fasted for forty days. The

first occasion was when Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus

34:28). The next occasion was when Elijah encountered God before the

anointing of Elisha (I Kings 19:8). The third occasion for such a fast

was when Jesus was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan (Matthew

4:2).

There are many reasons given in the Bible for fasting. It is seen as an

act of sacrifice that reminds Christians of God and through fasting,

while the flesh is denied comfort, the spirit is strengthened.

Fasting in Hinduism

Fasting in Hinduism is the denial of the physical needs of the body for

the sake of spiritual gains. According to Hindu scriptures, fasting

helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a

harmonious relationship between the body and the soul.
Hindus believe that this counters the tendency of people to be obsessed

with worldly indulgences, and not allowing time for spiritual

attainment. Worshippers are advised to impose restraints on themselves

to get their mind properly focused. One form of this restraint is

fasting.

Fasting is prescribed on all Ekadasi days. Ekadasi is a Sanskrit word

that refers to the 11th day of the lunar fortnight, twice a month

(Bowker, 173).

Vedic scriptures strongly recommend observing a complete fast on the

day of Ekadasi (without drinking water). Everyone from the age of eight

to eighty, irrespective of caste, gender, or any material

consideration, is recommended to fast on this day to make spiritual

progress.

Those who cannot perform the austerity of complete fasting, can follow

Ekadasi by eating once a day at midday, or eating once a day in the

evening. However, under no conditions should one eat grains in any form

on this day.

On this day, devotees fast during the day and keep vigil during the

night in prayer and meditation. Observing Ekadasi, it is believed,

would destroy all sins and purify the mind.

Fasting is seen not only as a part of worship; it is also a training of

the mind and the body to endure all hardships and to persevere under

difficulties and not give up.

Fasting in Islam

In Islam, fasting is an important act of worship done for Allah,

whereby a Muslim draws closer to His Lord by abandoning food, drink,

and sexual intercourse from sunset to sundown. Because of this, the

sincerity of faith and devotion to Allah should become all the more

evident. The believer knows that Allah will love him when he or she is

ready to abandon for Allah's sake the things he or she most desires.
Fasting the lunar month of Ramadan is obligatory upon every Muslim,

male or female, who is adult (i.e., has reached puberty), sane,

healthy, and not traveling, as the Qur'an points out:

[Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide

to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right

and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during

that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a

journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah

intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to

difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to

glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be

grateful.] (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

The Islamic fast involves a free decision on the part of the believer

to renounce the temptations of all appetites and desires of the flesh

during the day time for the whole month.

There are other kinds of voluntary fasting like fasting on Mondays and

Thursdays of each week, fasting 3 days in the middle of the lunar

month, and fasting on the day of `Ashura' and the day of `Arafah.

According to Muslims, fasting means abstaining from food, drink and

sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset, Muslims are also supposed to

abstain from lying, backbiting and arguing, as the Prophet MuhammadProphet Muhammad

indicated: "Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking.

Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if

anyone abuses you or behaves ignorantly to you, then say: I am fasting,

I am fasting" (Al-Hakim).

The chief objective of fasting in Islam is to develop God-

consciousness, leading to the blossoming forth of goodness and virtue

in life because the kind of self-restraint learnt from fasting is

capable of strengthening the will to lead a better and purer life in

this world, which in turn will lead to an eternal life of happiness in

the next.