Fasting in Islam from Ramadhan to daily becomes part of the important things to do as it represents the five Islamic pillars. Fasting means that Muslims should refrain from anything that cancels itself from everything that breaks fasting. It includes so many things such as obeying lust, stomach, and Farji (genitals), from the dawn of dawn to sunset the sun with special intentions.
On the Quran surah, Al Baqarah verse 183 already mentions about fasting that every Muslims should follow.
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَۙ – ١٨٣
“O you who believe! It is obligatory for you to fast as it was obligatory on people before you so that you fear,” (QS 2:183)
Based on that verse, there are so many benefits and virtues of fasting that you should know which works on how to overcome self-doubt in Islam. Here we have some of them below based on the Quran. Check them out!
1. Good Self-Control
Every Muslim believes by doing every type of fasting in Islam whether during Ramadhan or on a usual day, they will be a good person with good self-control. That because as long as they doing fasting, Muslims trained to refrain their self from anything.
By having good self-control, Muslims capable to refrain their emotion from the bad into the good ones. Besides, this already mentions in the Quran surah Maryam verse 26 below.
فَكُلِيْ وَاشْرَبِيْ وَقَرِّيْ عَيْنًا ۚفَاِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ اَحَدًاۙ فَقُوْلِيْٓ اِنِّيْ نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ اُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ اِنْسِيًّا ۚ – ٢٦
“So eat, drink and enjoy yourself. If you see someone, then say, “Verily I have vowed to fast for God the Most Merciful, then I will not talk to anyone today.” (QS 19:26)
2. Get More Blessing
Muslims believe by doing fasting they will get more blessings from Allah. Moreover, if they doing it on Ramadhan, Allah will give more blessing to them. That because Ramadhan becomes the most special month among another 11 months in a year.
It is already mentioned in the Quran surah Yusuf verse 59 which the prophet Yusuf helps his 11 brothers. That means that he replaces another 11 unperfect months with one month full of blessing.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُمْ بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ائْتُوْنِيْ بِاَخٍ لَّكُمْ مِّنْ اَبِيْكُمْ ۚ اَلَا تَرَوْنَ اَنِّيْٓ اُوْفِى الْكَيْلَ وَاَنَا۠ خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِيْنَ – ٥٩
“And when he (Yusuf) prepared foodstuffs for them, he said, “Bring to me your brother who is the same age as you (Bunyamin), don’t you see that I am perfecting the measure and I am the best receptionist?” (QS 12:59)
3. Best Time for the Atonement
Fasting can be one of the good deeds that you should follow to repentance your sin. During the time of fasting, you can pray for forgiveness so that your atonement time is perfect at this time. Begging for Allah’s mercy is important, and fasting can be as important as the importance of praising Allah in Islam.
It mentions on the Quran surah Yusuf verses 92-92 below which the prophet Yusuf gives his forgiveness for his brother. In Ramadhan, this means that this month becomes an atonement for every Muslim which Allah will grant his forgiveness to them.
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيْبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَۗ يَغْفِرُ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْ ۖوَهُوَ اَرْحَمُ الرّٰحِمِيْنَ – ٩٢
اِذْهَبُوْا بِقَمِيْصِيْ هٰذَا فَاَلْقُوْهُ عَلٰى وَجْهِ اَبِيْ يَأْتِ بَصِيْرًا ۚوَأْتُوْنِيْ بِاَهْلِكُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ ࣖ – ٩٣
“He (Yusuf) said, “On this day there is no reproach against you, hopefully, Allah will forgive you. And He is Most Merciful among the merciful. You go with my clothes, then wipe my father’s face, then he will look again, and bring your whole family to me. ” (QS 12: 92:93)
4. Strengthen the Faith
Just like other good deeds, Muslims believe that doing fasting regularly can improve their faith to be stronger than before. During fasting, whether on Ramadhan or not, Muslims will encourage their day to do more good deeds than the usual day without fasting.
As mentions in the Quran surah Al Baqarah verse 183 below, obey to doing fasting as mentions will make us be more a god-fearing person than others.
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَۙ – ١٨٣
“O you who believe! It is obligatory for you to fast as it was obligatory on people before you so that you fear,” (QS 2:183)
5. Having a Healthier Body
There is so much research that mentions doing fasting regularly is capable to improve a healthier life through your body. It capable to improves some good hormones in your body. These hormones will be balanced in so many good ways that work better on metabolism, muscle strengthens, loss-weight, obesity, and many more.
Such as mentions in the Quran surah Yunus verse 57 and Al A’raf verse 31 which you should not eat more than you need. Fasting becomes the best way to refrain from those eating habits such as representation the Islamic perspective about veganism diet.
يٰٓاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاۤءَتْكُمْ مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاۤءٌ لِّمَا فِى الصُّدُوْرِۙ وَهُدًى وَّرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ – ٥٧
“O, people! Indeed, it has come to you wisdom (Al-Qur’an) from your Lord, medicine for diseases that are in the chest, as well as guidance and mercy for those who believe. Drink, but don’t overdo it. Indeed, Allah does not like people who are wasteful.” (QS 10:57)
وَّكُلُوْا وَاشْرَبُوْا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوْاۚ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيْنَ ࣖ – ٣١…
“… , eat and drink, but don’t overdo it. Indeed, Allah does not like people who are extravagant.” (QS 7:31)
So, there are some glances about the benefits and virtues of fasting that you should know based on the Quran. How’s your fasting? Are you doing it regularly? Then may Allah blessing you more and more.