Reading the therapeutic contract in the Quran

Day # 26

On the mysteries of fasting

If we look at the verses where fasting is prescribed and how they are followed by a statement where God reassures us, his subjects of his closeness to us, we can think of fasting as a process, which leads to greater closeness to God. It does so through the cleansing of the heart and reconnection with the Source of goodness.

2:183  You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God

2:184  Fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, there is a way to compensate- feed a needy person. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew

2:185  It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful

2:186  [Prophet], if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I respond to those who call Me, so let them respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided

This process that we go through over the period of a month begins to yield its fruits, if we do it mindfully, towards the end of the month, when we reach the nights of determination or glory or power (various translations for Qadr).

97:1  We sent it down on the Night of Glory

97:2  What will explain to you what that Night of Glory is

97:3  The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months

97:4  on that night the angels and the Spirit descend again and again with their Lord’s permission on every task

97:5  [there is] peace that night until the break of dawn

This is very crucial to understand that this inward movement that we undergo during the month of Ramadan prepares us to receive the guidance of God.

Thus Ramadan being the month of the Quran does not solely refer to the fact that it was the month when revelation began, but where it continues. It is a perpetual act of revelation of meanings, revelation of connection with God. Fasting can therefore be understood as a therapeutic process, an experiential cleansing of the heart, or an experiential dismantling of defences, a taming of drives, for our spiritual dimension to thrive.

So how does the fasting process achieve that?