Why Fasting is Spiritually and Physically Beneficial

On By Zeenat Merchant Syal|PositiveProvocations.comIn Heal Your Soul Column, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Positive Self Reflection

Why Fasting is Spiritually & Physically Beneficial

Fasting is not just staying hungry and thirsty. Its not just staying away from food and water…..

Fasting is an act of cleansing. Cleansing the body, cleansing the mind, cleansing the heart, cleansing the Soul…..cleansing your complete being from all the negativity that we carry within.

As I blur out the outside world and dwell within, I would like to share with you what the Holy month of Ramadan and Fasting truly mean to me.

Having studied almost every religion under the sun, I know for a fact that every community, every faith has a form of fasting embedded within their system. Fasting that is meant to inculcate physical & spiritual growth.

Why Fasting is Spiritually and Physically Beneficial

Why Fasting is Spiritually & Physically BeneficialHere are some in depth words by highly eminent beings, that will give you an idea as to how I see fasting as a means for spiritual and physical growth. Their words as they are, are far better than my own in explaining this beautiful act of cleansing the soul.

1) The Prophet(pbuh)said: Whoever spends more time praising and worshipping God and spends less time eating, drinking and sleeping is more eagerly welcomed by the divine angels. (Mizan al Hikmat, v1, p 116)

2) Imam Ali(a.s) said: Eating light meals, and nobility are more lasting for our health. When God the Glorious wishes the well being of His servant, He shall inspire him/her to talk less, to eat less and to sleep less .

3) There is an unseen sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness! Man is like a lute, neither more nor less: When the lute’s stomach is full, it cannot lament, whether high or low. If your brain and stomach burn from fasting, their fire will draw constant lamentation from your breast. Through that fire you will burn a thousand veils at every instant–you will ascend a thousand degrees on the Way and in your aspiration. [Rumi, Divan: Ghazal 1739].

4) When satiated by food and drink, an unsightly metal statue is seated where your spirit should be. When fasting, good habits gather like helpful friends. [Rumi, Divan: Ghazal 1739]

5) O people! A month [Ramadan] has approached you laden with blessing, mercy and forgiveness; it is a month which Almighty Allah regards as the best of all months. Its days, in the sight of Almighty Allah, are the best of days, its nights are the best of nights, its hours are the best of hours. It is a month in which you are invited to be the guests of Almighty Allah and you are regarded during it as worthy of enjoying Almighty Allah’s generosity. Your breathing in it is regarded as praising Almighty Allah and your sleep as adoration, and your voluntary acts of worship are accepted, and your pleas are answered. [Prophet Mohammed’s(pbuh) Sermon on the Month of Ramadan.]

6) Fasting kills the desire of the self and the appetite of greed, and from it comes purity of the heart, purification of the limbs, cultivation of the inner and the outer being, thankfulness for blessings, charity to the poor, increase of humble supplication, humility, weeping and most of the ways of seeking refuge in God; and it is the reason for the breaking of aspiration, the lightening of evil things, and the redoubling of good deeds. It contains benefits which cannot be counted. It is enough that we mention some of them to the person who understands and is given success in making use of fasting, if God wills. [Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq, The Lantern of the Path, Fasting].

7) I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency. [Plato]

8) He who buries his head deep into a nosebag full of food cannot hope to see the invisible world. [Al-Ghazali]

9) Fasting is the first principle of medicine; fast and see the strength of the spirit reveal itself. [Rumi]

10) The light of the world will illuminate within you when you fast and purify yourself. [Mahatma Gandhi]

11) [W]hen the faculties are empty, then your whole being listens. [Thomas Merton]

12) To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. [Benjamin Franklin]

13) Fasting blinds the body in order to open the eyes of your soul.[Rumi]

14) Fasting strengthens control over our appetites, thus contributing to self-mastery. [George Romney]

15) If you want to ascend like the Prophet to the sky of immortality, know this very well: Fasting is your Arabian stallion. [Rumi]

16) Every one has a doctor in him; we just have to help him in his work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. To eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness. [Hippocrates]

I am sure you see the immense wisdom in the above words as do I.

Fasting of any kind has its spiritual benefits. We just need to make up our mind and hearts to nurture our soul relentlessly as we do our bodies.

The Detoxification Benefits of fasting on the Physical body:

Here are some interesting scientific facts on what happens to our body during fasting!

♥Detoxification Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2)

On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.

♥Detoxification Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7)

Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

♥Detoxification Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15)

You will experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body’s ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body’s natural healing ability was compromised. During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.

♥Detoxification Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30)

The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.

ramadan blessings

Thank you for stopping by and may this Holy month of Ramadan shower its blessings on you too.

A Special request: If it feels right to your heart, I would appreciate if you said a small prayer for me and my loved ones. Thank you!

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With Immense Love & Gratitude,
~Zeenat~

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8 thoughts on “Why Fasting is Spiritually and Physically Beneficial”

  1. fabzindia

    Superb post! Knowing exactly what’s happening in our body on every day of fasting goes a long way in helping us deal with the associated discomfort. Thanks a lot for this and Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family too!

  3. May you have a healthful month of retreat, Zeenat; may the rejuvenation thereof keep you energised and blessed for rest of the year…🤗

  6. You are so courageous. I’m a baby when it comes to fasting, although I did intermittent fasting for 4 months, cutting out my morning meal. Wishing you a beautiful Ramadan! Much love to you.

  8. Thank you for sharing thins information with us. It was all new to me. Fasting also has incredible brain benefits because it forces your liver to make ketones which are rocket fuel for the brain. Fasting is an all around good thing. I try to fast once a week or so for 24 hours for the brain benefits.

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