The wisdom Behind Fasting Ramadan

A teenager who can’t understand the wisdom behind fasting the holy month of Ramadan says to his grandfather, a well behaved and wise man: I can’t grasp the very reason that can induce me to spend my day without food or drink, it looks like a voluntary starvation that harms my body and weaken my energy”.

His grandfather listens to him carefully and replies: “so why do you fast?”

His grandson says: “It seems that I have no choice and I can’t defy the whole society that performs the same rituals”

The elderly man asks:” so why didn’t you ask some of your wise acquaintances?”

The young boy answers: “ I can’t do it because they may despise me”

His grandfather says: I found your question very interesting and logical and I sense it as the first step to build some solid faith and sensible behaviour” . He adds:” Listen boy, what will happen if you don’t eat for a while?”

The curious boy responds:”some hunger, thirst and tiredness”

His grandfather continues: “ will your life be spoilt?”

“ Not at all!. I will be fine after breaking my fast”

“Good. How will you enjoy your food and drink when you have all what you need in abundance?”

“I think there in no enjoyment. The taste of food is lost when it is available in abundance”

“ Suppose you are leading a life where there is no ethics, no rules and no regulation”

“it will be a complete chaos and anarchy”

The grandfather goes on : “Even the jungle has its own natural system that lets it survive”

“yes, of course”

“so does the material controls the immaterial or the opposite?”

“I think the opposite”

“Then you agree that the immaterial prevails and control the material”

“without doubt”

“The same approach can be applied to see the wisdom behind fasting. When you cleanse your soul, you control your instincts and desires, then you follow the leadership of your mind. Your body and behaviour are trusted to the light of wisdom. Therefore the power of greed and temptation collapses and you free yourself from all types of self destruction. The material belongs to the earth which shapes our grave or jail but the immaterial shapes our soul that flies high free in the sky looking for more perspectives.

The experienced man adds: “ thankfully, the immaterial survives and lasts whereas the material dies and wears off. All in all, We fast to survive”