Nadia Ghauri, Bournemouth
Our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing are inseparable. This is expounded by His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him), the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:
“All our natural actions like eating, drinking, sleeping waking…affect our spiritual condition. Our physical structure is related intimately to our total humanity…there is a mysterious relationship between the soul and the body which is beyond the ken of man. Reflection shows that the body is the mother of the soul.” [1]
Therefore, we must make the most out of Ramadan’s spiritual bounties by optimising our physical states. From an outsider’s viewpoint, fasting perhaps seems a demanding ritual that weakens us. In reality, it’s the opposite. The medical benefits, which although subordinate to the spiritual core of Ramadan, strengthen our bodies all while strengthening our faith.
Ramadan gives us as Muslims the opportunity to reap a multitude of spiritual, mental and physical benefits. During this blessed month, the 9th of the Islamic calendar, fasting has been prescribed for healthy adult Muslims. Fasting is a practice which dates back centuries and has significance in most major world religions. It is the fourth pillar of Islam which entails abstaining from food, drink and conjugal relations, dawn until dusk. The overarching objective of Ramadan is to develop our taqwa (righteousness) and deepen our devotion to God, as stated in the Holy Qur’an:
“O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.” (2:184)
The hunger and thirst experienced whilst fasting instils in us discipline, along with greater concern for those who have no choice but to go to bed on empty stomachs. The Arabic root of ‘Ramadan’, ‘r-m-d’, can even mean the physical sensation of one’s inside becoming hot due to intense thirst.[2] Therefore, when we fast, our love and empathy for God’s creation grow and we are encouraged to become more charitable.
Scientific studies increasingly bring the health benefits of fasting into focus. From a biological perspective, being able to function well with little food aided the survival chances of earlier humans when food was scarce. Furthermore, fasting cleanses our bodies, flushing out harmful toxins and waste. It likewise lowers cholesterol levels, promotes weight loss, boosts metabolism and improves digestion[3]. When the body’s usual energy sources begin depleting, the body instead converts ‘bad’ cholesterol from fat cells into energy[4]. Scar tissues, tumours and old wounds can similarly be used as backup energy sources. This is why fasting stimulates healing and the clear-up of acne[5]. To maximise these benefits, we should take care to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals and to stay hydrated during the non-fasting hours.
There is also evidence that fasting sharpens cognitive function, memory and alertness[6]. We can leverage this by memorising Qur’anic verses, performing our Prayers with greater focus and expanding our religious knowledge. Our spiritual progress is by no means hindered by fasting, but rather, accelerated.
Islam is a religion of moderation. It does not put undue pressures onto those individuals for whom fasting could prove harmful. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, travellers and the sick are all exempted from fasting in Islam.
As we gradually emerge from our third lockdown, a year since the pandemic was officially declared, it is important for us to harness the physically-regenerative benefits of fasting. Many of us now lead more sedentary lives. Periods of inactivity, comfort eating and boredom snacking may have caused weight gain or unhealthy eating patterns because of the restrictions. Therefore, Ramadan can help us reset our routines. We can counterbalance the negative impacts of stressors and lifestyle changes. And of course, with the ongoing developments of different virus strains, it remains ever important for us to fortify our immunity. Fasting actually kickstarts the production of white blood cells; key building blocks to our immunity[7].
The adverse effects of the pandemic must not be ignored, as they influence both psychological and physical health. With livelihoods threatened, school life disrupted and loneliness on the rise, people have understandably felt greater anxiety and stress. While fasting alone is by no means a cure-all for the complexities of our mental health crisis, it does nevertheless reduce cortisol; the ‘stress hormone’. This improves our mental state, helps us feel calmer and supports our immune system, which is suppressed by excess cortisol.[8]
While we replenish our faith, let us replenish our bodies. Our souls, housed in our bodies, are remarkable, gifted to us by our Most Gracious God, Ar-Rahman. By recognising that our physical, mental and spiritual states can be synergised, we can derive many benefits from Ramadan.
[1] The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, 5-6.
[2] http://arabiclexicon.hawramani.com/search/%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6?cat=50 [Lane’s online dictionary]
[3] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits
[4] https://www.alhakam.org/health-benefits-of-fasting-in-ramadan/
[5] https://skinverse.com/fasting-for-better-health-and-skin/
[6] https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/diet-and-lifestyle/2018/how-does-fasting-affect-the-brain-071318
[7] https://www.alhakam.org/health-benefits-of-fasting-in-ramadan/
[8] https://ugm.ac.id/en/news/19358-discovering-the-advantages-of-fasting-for-mental-health#:~:text=By%20organizing%20the%20eating%20schedule,it%20can%20reduce%20stress%20levels.
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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