Being the fourth pillar of Islam known as Saum, or fasting, the month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Muslims are required to observe a strict fast from dawn until dusk. Since a lunar month has about 30 days in it, the benefits achieved during this time is truly life-changing.
Reform programs such as diet fads, cold turkey denial, counseling, and alcohol and drug treatment programs are often unsuccessful, leading people to relapse into their self-destructive overindulgence.
Merely giving these vices up for a short period won't solve the problem.
Is there no way out of personal gluttony? The answer lies not in watching our weight with new pills or eating plans or in wearing a nicotine patch, but in the education of our soul and in curbing its desires from within.
Islam's cure starts with defining the problem as a spiritual identity crisis.
When we forget that God exists and is watching us, when we ignore our fitrah, or inner nature to seek God, when we fail to live according to God's good laws and forget the advice of the prophets, then we can fall prey to any self-destructive impulse.
The solution, then, must begin with strengthening the soul and then bringing the body along in step.
Islam carries with it a fasting component for this reason.
We can become better enlightened only when we rise above the flesh and recognize the force of our spirit, our very human will.
The Qur'an explains the purpose of fasting in this way:
"You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed
for those before you, so you can gain more spiritual awareness."
(Holy Quran 2:183)
transformation takes place.
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