The objective of fasting is to cleanse both body and soul

Sajda Khan explains the significance of Ramadan and fasting

The self-control exercised by Muslims during Ramadan is about restraining the soul from succumbing to the ego and nurturing the soul to be obedient to God and filter out negative emotions such as anger, greed, selfishness, intolerance, arrogance, and dishonesty. Aali Haider / EPAShow less

Fasting in the summer is difficult and tiring, but this is the challenge that is meant to strengthen the willpower and cultivate the characteristics of patience and perseverance.

The Arabic word for fasting is sawm. This literally means “restraint” and “self-control”. Abstinence from fulfilling the physical desires is a catalyst for self-discipline. It is through this self-control that a Muslim practises good habits and manners.

The self-control exercised by Muslims during Ramadan is about restraining the soul from succumbing to the ego and nurturing the soul to be obedient to God and filter out negative emotions such as anger, greed, selfishness, intolerance, arrogance, and dishonesty. It is through this self-control that Muslims foster virtuous characteristics. As an Indian proverb goes, "good habits result from resisting temptation".

Abstention from certain things in secret and public is also a manifestation of a Muslim’s true faith in God and obedience to Him because, unlike most other pillars of Islam, the fast is a profoundly private act of worship. As the American writer Jeffrey Lang said: “We can observe a Muslim performing the other four pillars, but, in addition to himself, only God knows if he is staying with the fast.”

Ramadan is inherently about purifying the soul and rejuvenating the faith. These internal objectives ought to be fulfilled in conjunction with piety. Fasting has little value for one who is unable to abstain from evil thoughts and deeds.

Piety is the core principle in Islam that should be perfected through observance all the five pillars of the faith. This is done by striving to adopt certain universal principles such as sincerity, honesty, justice selflessness and compassion.

For some people though, faith is a remote and abstract entity and does not necessarily have any bearing on the outer character and as a consequence the piety that one should endeavour to achieve is often abjured by an intense focus on rites and rituals. The Holy Quran consistently describes true believers as those having faith and adhering to righteousness. Therefore, observing the five pillars of Islam and having faith should be intertwined with outward piety.

Fasting instils the qualities of empathy, gratitude and compassion towards the less fortunate.

During Ramadan, Muslims are constantly reminded of their frailty and dependence on God. This brings about humility, reverence and selflessness. When Muslims feel the pangs of hunger and thirst, this evokes a sense of social responsibility and encourages them to be charitable and help those who are less fortunate or going through hardship.

Ramadan is also an opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate the blessings they have in life – basic necessities such as food and water that are often taken for granted. We never truly know how to appreciate something until we lose them. The American writer Cynthia Ozick rightly said: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

In today’s consumer-driven society, many people are only concerned about themselves. Ramadan encapsulates the spirit of magnanimity and kindness towards others.

This idea is meant to create a strong foundation of society. A lack of empathy and compassion for others weakens a society.

Ramadan is not just about a physical experience, but rather a spiritual one that ought to be reflected in our behaviour towards fellow humans.

Sajda Khan is a British writer and PhD researcher