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Do we have the right to call the Islamic fasting to be secular practice if it’s proven to have many scientific benefits? Or it depends on the person’s dogma?
What is Islamic (secular) Fasting?
Islamic (secular) Fasting is abstinence from all food, fluids, sexual relations and even cigarettes, from sun first light to sun set. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast.
During one month of the year “Ramadhan” (August, for the year 2011)
Fasting has many, many (secular) benefits for individuals, families and the whole society. Fasting has economic, social, moral (discipline) and tones of medical benefits
Sympathizing with the Poor (secular social benefit)
Our Islamic (secular) leaders have called Ramadhan as charity month. Stimulating of man’s sympathizing sense to the poor is one of conspicuous results of Ramadhan. Persons who live comfortably and don’t feel hunger and thirst, may forget the poor but fast is a means by which they can member and help them. It has been recommended to pay alms in Ramadhan month. In this month rich man closes to poor man and society learns assistance. Charity means to share the provision with each other and for this reason Ramadhan has been called as charity month.
Fast and Patience
Patience is a (secular) character which is emphasized by Islamic ethics. Muslim fights for some aims in his social and personal life and he is countered with some problems. Victory and attaining of aims is not simple without patience. It increases man’s resistance and strengthens his will. If a society doesn’t bear difficulties, it can not gain a victory against its enemies. We can fight with cruel by patience and resistance. Fasting especially in hot days of summer in which thirst become intolerable, man learns patience and bears difficulties easily. Quran and Islamic leaders have called fast as patience.
Discipline:
Punctuality and discipline are the manifestations of human being’s civilization and one of the most important factors in success and progress. May be some people think that these particulars are specialized for westerns’ life and their civilization, but discipline and punctuality are Islam’s instructions. It teaches person how to self control himself, he may be very thirsty, and having the water in his hands, in absence of any monitoring human being, but he will not drink. That basic role can be spread out for every illegal or immoral issue.
Some medical benefits:
During the absence of food, the body will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue. A. J. Carlson, Professor of Physiology, University of Chicago, states that a healthy, well-nourished man can live from 50 to 75 days without food, provided he is not exposed to harsh elements or emotional stress. Human fat is valued at 3,500 calories per pound. Each extra pound of fat will supply enough calories for one day of hard physical labor. Ten pounds of fat are equal to 35,000 calories! Most of us have sufficient reserves, capable of sustaining us for many weeks.
see below,
other benefits of Fasting:
Rest is understood to be a big factor in enhancing recovery, as it is when the body is at rest that it is able to direct the most energy towards the various chemical and mechanical processes of detoxification. When fasting, a person experiences recovery at a rate that is swifter than normal. He is ridding his body of toxins and excesses; allowing the body to use its own wisdom to healthfully reorganize itself from the atomic level. As the toxic load is reduced, the functioning of every cell is enhanced. In the same way that vital nerve energy is accumulated during a night’s sleep, the faster builds nerve energy through rest, sleep, and detoxification.
The human body has many ordinary modes of achieving elimination: the liver, lungs, kidneys, colon, etc. When these are overloaded, the body will resort to “extra ordinary” methods of elimination: boils, mucous and other discharges, sweats, vomiting, diarrhea, and many others. Should elimination be impossible or uneconomical of body energy, the toxic overload will go into storage forms in the joints, vessels, muscles, organs; almost any tissue in the body. While fasting, the body is highly conservative of its energy and resources. During this deep and profound rest, toxin intake and production are reduced to a minimum while autolysins and elimination proceed unchecked. Anabolic processes such as tissue and bone healing also proceed at a maximal rate during the fast.
Fasting enhances mental acuity
Perhaps the most instructive testimony as to the acuteness of mental powers during fasting comes from Dr. Herbert Shelton who supervised the fasting of more than 40,000 people over a period of fifty years. His message is that the freer the body is of toxic materials flowing through the blood and lymphatic system, the clearer is the ability to think.
Healing
During a fast, a metamorphosis occurs. The body undergoes a tearing down and rebuilding of damaged materials. For this reason, fasting is famous for its ability to rejuvenate and give the body a more youthful tone. Why does fasting have such a powerful effect in healing the body? Fasting dissolves diseased cells in a systematic manner, leaving healthy tissue. The result is a thorough cleansing of the tube, membrane and cellular structures. There is a remarkable redistribution of nutrients in the fasting body. It hangs on to precious minerals and vitamins while catabolizing on old tissue, toxins and inferior materials.
Fasting has been beneficial for these conditions:
Although fasting is not recommended in every situation, (cancer of the liver is one instance where fasting is contraindicated), in many situations fasting is the only known solution. Fasting has been beneficial for arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, lupus, chronic fatigue, colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, spastic colon, irritable bowel, cases of paralysis, neuritis, neuralgia, neuroses, and mental illness as well as many others. Fasting will also break down tumors and for this reason, many have overcome cancer with fasting
Benefits of Fasting
Mental clarity is improved and brain fog is lifted.
Rapid, safe weight loss is achieved without flabbiness
The nervous system is balanced
Energy level and sensory perception is increased. The longer the fast, the bigger increase in energy and vitality. You normally need less sleep.
Organs are revitalized
Cellular biochemistry is harmonized
The skin becomes silky, soft, and sensitive
There is greater ease of movement
Breathing becomes fuller, freer and deeper
The digestive system is rejuvenated and becomes more effective; the peristaltic action of the intestines (the cause of a natural bowel movement) is stronger after fasting.
Fasting retrains your tasting sense back to more healthy food as acute sensitivity is restored.
Fasting can increase confidence in our ability to have control over our lives and our appetite, and that our body is self-regulating and a self-healing organism capable or establishing balance when given the possibility to do so.
Normal metabolic and cell oxygenation are restored.
Detoxification - as soon as the body realizes that it’s fasting it will begin to eliminate those things that cause disease, such as fat cells, arterial cholesterol plaques, mucus, tumors, stored up worries and emotions.
Fasting is a part of many religious traditions, and most of them were in existence long before Islam. I fast on occasion, as I think necessary. I don’t fast according to any schedule, and Jesus did not institute any specific format for fasting. It does have its benefits, but again, it is not an Islamic invention.
Islam copied fasting from Judaism during the pre- Islamic Arab practice of a fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram[First month on the Islamic calender]. After Mohammad’s emigration to Madina and the change of the prayer-direction from Jerusalem to Mecca, the duration of the fast was lengthened from one to ten days, then after the final break down of relations with the Jews, the whole month of Ramadan was reserved for fasting.
I suppose he wanted to differentiate the Arabs traditions from those of the Jews. A bit like changing the recipe to make it your own. But Muslims copied other things as well from the Jews. Ban on pork, circumcision, etc.
They should have copied one more tradition from the Jews. Education.
...Muslims copied other things as well from the Jews. Ban on pork, circumcision, etc.
(Andrew): Actually, avoiding pork and the practice of circumcision were part of the general Semitic culture that the Hebrews inherited.
Celal - 31 July 2011 07:32 AM
They should have copied one more tradition from the Jews. Education.
(Andrew): Muslims held the lead for a long time in areas of science, mathematics and art. Moorish Spain became a haven for the Jewish intelligencia during the Christian persecutions.
...Muslims copied other things as well from the Jews. Ban on pork, circumcision, etc.
(Andrew): Actually, avoiding pork and the practice of circumcision were part of the general Semitic culture that the Hebrews inherited.
Celal - 31 July 2011 07:32 AM
They should have copied one more tradition from the Jews. Education.
(Andrew): Muslims held the lead for a long time in areas of science, mathematics and art. Moorish Spain became a haven for the Jewish intelligencia during the Christian persecutions.
First part is an odd post. Especially when you say “Actually”; it does not refute my statement. I did not discuss the origin of fasting. That is a different topic all together. I said Muslims copied from Jews. That is a true statement.
As for the golden age of Islam, that is a topic I know something about. It had nothing to do with Islam.
As for the golden age of Islam, that is a topic I know something about. It had nothing to do with Islam.
That is not accurate. The “golden age of Islam” was possible because of the Islamic conquests, which provided relatively stable and peaceful social conditions over a large area, and subsequent support of learning by some Islamic Caliphs (e.g., establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad). It is likely that the “Arab” contribution to knowledge (Arab, Jewish, Zoroastrian, etc.) would not have happened without the prior spread of Islam, although proof of a negative isn’t possible. Don’t let your disdain for Islam color your view of history.
Islam copied fasting from Judaism during the pre- Islamic Arab practice of a fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram[First month on the Islamic calender]. After Mohammad’s emigration to Madina and the change of the prayer-direction from Jerusalem to Mecca, the duration of the fast was lengthened from one to ten days, then after the final break down of relations with the Jews, the whole month of Ramadan was reserved for fasting.
I suppose he wanted to differentiate the Arabs traditions from those of the Jews. A bit like changing the recipe to make it your own. But Muslims copied other things as well from the Jews. Ban on pork, circumcision, etc.
They should have copied one more tradition from the Jews. Education.
Celal, i hope you to have peace
The obligated fast in Islam was just like that,
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,- 2-183
(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.2-184
We are sure there was a fasting on the previous nations, we don’t claim to be the first nation to fast.
We believe the Judaism and Christianity were real religions at the time of their prophets (peace and blessing up on them), while it have been distorted and original scriptures had been changed.
We have the same god, who have the right to reveal the final and eternal religion, Islam, and to miraculously preserve the Quran. Not by the Moslem effort but by the god’s well. Not for the Moslems only but, to all the humanity.
Although I’m not sure if it they had the same characteristics like use:
one complete molar month.
Begins at sun first light to sun set.
abstinence from all food, fluids, sexual relations and even cigarettes.
As for the golden age of Islam, that is a topic I know something about. It had nothing to do with Islam.
That is not accurate. The “golden age of Islam” was possible because of the Islamic conquests, which provided relatively stable and peaceful social conditions over a large area, and subsequent support of learning by some Islamic Caliphs (e.g., establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad). It is likely that the “Arab” contribution to knowledge (Arab, Jewish, Zoroastrian, etc.) would not have happened without the prior spread of Islam, although proof of a negative isn’t possible. Don’t let your disdain for Islam color your view of history.
Last sentence is a good advice. Well taken.
What I meant by nothing to do with Islam was perhaps, misunderstood. I could hear “Muslims” claim the glory of the religion of Islam and attribute the accomplishments to the religion. That is what I was responding to. “The religion of Islam”.
So, I still stand by the statement in that context. Muslims take the “golden of age of Islam” literally and attach it to Islam. It was actually the culmination of knowledge from the conquered territories. This knowledge was well assimilated by intellectuals mostly from Persia and Iraq who were essentially not religious, nor used Islam to formulate their science. This is the point that Muslims misunderstand. Nothing to do with the religion. Particularly when you take into account that these intellectuals were considered operating outside of Islam by the religious people. Omar Khayyam was one whose disdain for the religion is well known in his poetry.
I’ll do and my 9 years old son will try
And for those whom like to try for reason or another even fun, to know that they will face some physical and psychotically troubles in the first 3 days only, so he may do it gradually
I was once in a Mosque in the Middle East during the 27th day of Ramadan, they were passing around a glass case that contained a hair strand which was believed to have come your Prophet’s beard. It started in the first row, it never made it to the 2nd row. People had been overcome with emotions and literally lost themselves and forgot where they were. After great deal of uncontrollable chaos, the whole idea was cancelled and people went home.
I’ll do and my 9 years old son will try
And for those whom like to try for reason or another even fun, to know that they will face some physical and psychotically troubles in the first 3 days only, so he may do it gradually
That you would inflict this on a child is sickening. But then mind fucking children is considered a virtue and an imperative for the perpetuation of the virus.
