“Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become God-fearing.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 2:183)
This ayathas three important facts about the obligation of fasting: one, that Allah enjoins upon the believers fasting in the blessed month of Ramadhan; two, that fasting is not something new as it had been enjoined upon the earlier peoples as well; and three, that the real intent of fasting is that we may become God-fearing.
Ramadhan Fasting is obligatory, not optional. Each and every Muslim must fast during this month if he is adult, sane and physically well.
Like Salat (prayers), fasting had been an essential obligation for the followers of earlier Prophets. The Bible says Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days,and that Christians are enjoined to fast. Even the Vedas and the Puranas prescribe fasting. Thus,Fasting has been one of the main sources of nurturing piety. In Islam it is a month-long training course.
The believers abstain from eating, drinking and intimate relationship from dawn to dusk. These things otherwise permissible become impermissible for a certain period of time. This exercise enables the believers to abstain from what has been forbidden by the Shari’ah, the worldly temptations notwithstanding. This is the crux of piety. If a person who fasts does so with the fear of God lurking in his mind, thought and action that he is to present himself before the Almighty one day and account for all his acts of omission and commission, he becomes the most piteous man on earth.