Taming of the Nafs through Fasting
O You who believe! Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that you may have Taqwa (Qur’aan 2:183)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘The fast is a shield so no obscenity and no foolishness,’ (muwatta of maalik; saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of musim)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, then Allah has no need for him abandoning his food and drink.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
Fasting in Ramadaan is a time to reflect on our character and behaviour. As Muslims we should always be busy improving our character, Ramadaan is a time when we should excel in this. Year after year we use this month to improve our character with the fasting watering down and diluting our bad behaviours until Allah allows us to be increasingly purified. With the passage of time we gain more life experience and wisdom, and with time we gain more experience in fasting with all of this helping build character and strength. It is no surprise that Allah chains the devils during this blessed month making it easier for His worshippers to control and tame the Nafs.
When we study the Qur’aan and Sunna the goal of fasting becomes clear in that it serves to increase us in Taqwa and good behaviour. The objective of fasting is to attain Taqwa of Allah while controlling and taming the Nafs. So the believer keeps the fast for Allah being certain of Allah’s Living existence; thinking of Him with deep remembrance; striving to worship Him as if he sees Him high above him; performing worship before His Majesty with reverence, awe and submission. This is fasting and this is all a part of Taqwa. Likewise the believer keeps the fast in obedience to Allah, staying away from the prohibited; controlling the hungers and desires for food, drink, sexual relations and the evil suggestions of the soul. Again, this is fasting and this is all a part of Taqwa. With Taqwa during the fasts, the Nafs becomes weakened and the ability to tame it increases. If the Nafs wants food and drink during the fast we tell it no, for Allah has prohibited eating and drinking during the fast. The Nafs is being tamed. If the Nafs wants sexual relations during the fast we tell it no, for Allah has prohibited sexual relations during the fast. Again the Nafs is being tamed. Likewise if the Nafs gets upset and wants to get angry or it wants to behave badly then again we say no, for Allah has prohibited bad speech and actions. The Nafs is yet again being tamed as we continue to teach it a lesson.
So it is not the case that we focus on one aspect of the Nafs to the exclusion of another for all these aspects are a part of the fast. For those who are able to control their hunger, thirst and lust while not being able to control their manners then their fasts have done nothing for their Nafs which although hungry and thirsty remains untamed. We should reflect on this and remember that Allah is not concerned with the Nafs which fasts yet remains untamed.
Kamillah Khan
