Why is fasting an important part of religion?

Answer 1

Fasting is considered to be important to Muslims because the Islamic faith is built on five pillars: Shahadah (or the declaration of faith), Salat (prayer five times a day), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (paying alms to charity), and Hajj (the holy pilgrimage to Mekkah). Fasting, especially during Ramadan is considered to have great spiritual value, and it is believed that fasting will allow you to get closer to Allah by means of Taqwa. Muslims believe that fasting allows them to appreciate God and how much he does for them, as well as inducing empathy for those less fortunate. Fasting also helps create a feeling of Umma within the Islamic community as Muslims across the world know that their brothers and sisters are going through the same ordeal that they themselves are.

Not everybody has to fast. Children under the age of 13 (girls) or 14 (boys) are exempt, as are pregnant and breast-feeding women, the elderly and the sick. There are also many things that negate the fast if a person commits them. For example, eating, drinking, sexual activities, smoking, swearing and immoral behaviour all exempt the fast. If a person commits one of these offences, depending on the severity, they would either have to make up the day of fasting, or fast for 60 days after Ramadan ends. If this is not possible, they have to make up the cost of two meals for sixty poor people - this generally equates to being around £300.

If a person fasts for the fist six days of Shawwaal, after Eid-ul Fitr, it is said that the benefits in heaven will be as if that person had fasted for a lifetime.

Answer 2

Fasting the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. It's a duty commanded by the Almighty Allah. It teaches many good things like patience,feeling with poor & hungry people & helping them,solidarity in the Islamic community.

The Almighty Allah promised to reward those who fast to obey Him & bessech His favors.
Fasting is third pillar of Islam out of 5 pillars . It is why it is important for Muslim .

Answer 3

Though I'm an atheist who's never fasted, I come from a very religious family and have know people who have fasted.

To them, it is a way of connecting with god. They are denying themselves physical comfort, and drawing purely on spiritual comfort. Their hunger is not a way of hurting themselves, but a way of making them realize that they do not belong to a merely physical world. Also, their hunger and thirst constantly reminds them throughout their day/week/month that they should be faithful in their religion.

I'm sure there are slightly different reasons for different religions as well as specific people, but this is the general reason.

Answer.

For one to have the true understanding of "Fasting" and why it is an important part of the "Spiritual process", then it must also be noted that it is also referred to as "Famine", and that day is most important to Our Almighty God. In a nut shell it is the process by which "evil" is chastised.

However, within many books of The Bible, it is very clear that fasting is a "divine process", yet despise what many believe that if they go without food, then they would have fasted. No, that is fleshly fasting. The correct way of fasting is "divine", as it is written,

"I will send a famine in the land (body), not a famine of bread

nor of thirst for water, but of (the evil spirit within) hearing the

words of the Lord. (Amos 8v11).

Hence, the law, as it is written Exodus 34v21-24 "Six days shalt thou work (pray), but rest on the 7th. (which is the sabbath).

The benefit is that ,...the law hath dominion over a (evil) man as long as he liveth. (Roman 7v1).

So, fasting is one of the most important pillars for divine renewal. Yet as compelling as it is, many religious organizations either ignore or misinterpret the process.

Answer 4

They could have a better relation whit him