The Deeper Meaning of Fasting

The Prophet ﷺ said in a ḥadīth qudsī:

“All the deeds of the son of Ādam are for him, except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward it.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 1904)

Fasting is not only a physical act but an inward one. It’s the restraint of the tongue from falsehood, the eyes from forbidden sights, and the heart from ill intentions. In essence, fasting transforms the believer into someone whose focus shifts from earthly needs to divine proximity.

It’s not surprising, then, that the early scholars referred to fasting as “the secret between the servant and his Lord.” Because while others may see you refrain from eating, only Allah knows the hunger you bear for His sake.

Shayṭān and Human Nature

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Indeed, Shayṭān flows through the son of Ādam like blood.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3281) (Sahih Muslim 2175)

Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله explained that Shayṭān’s access to a person increases with heedlessness and indulgence. When the body is overfed and the desires are unchecked, the “pathways” through which Shayṭān operates widen. He finds comfort in abundance and distraction. But when the believer fasts, those pathways narrow, weakening his grasp.

This explains why fasting is a direct strike against Shayṭān. It’s not merely abstention; it’s resistance. It’s the believer saying with action: “My body belongs to Allah, not to my desires.”

How Fasting Weakens Shayṭān

Fasting weakens Shayṭān both physically and spiritually. Physically, the act of fasting deprives the body of excess, the indulgences that often lead to sin. Spiritually, it reorients the believer toward Allah, away from heedlessness. Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله, the student of Ibn Taymiyyah, said: “When a person fasts, his inner faculties become pure and luminous, because the veils of desire are lifted.” (Madarij as-Salikin, 1/71)

In essence, fasting reduces the energy Shayṭān draws upon to tempt us. He thrives on distraction and fasting is the discipline of attention. He thrives on heedlessness and fasting is remembrance. He thrives on arrogance and fasting cultivates humility. Each day of fasting is a quiet spiritual battle, and with every passing hour, Shayṭān’s whisper fades a little more.

It’s worth remembering the wisdom of Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله who sid: “Fasting degrades and weakens Shayṭān; it debilitates the effect of his whispers upon a person, and sins diminish.” (Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 25/246)

Fasting as a Shield Against Sin

The Prophet ﷺ described fasting as a protection:

“Fasting is a shield.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1894)Sahih Muslim 1151)

When a believer fasts sincerely, their senses become alert. Anger is tempered, lust subdued, and the ego humbled. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ advised:

“When one of you is fasting, let him not speak obscenely or behave ignorantly. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: ‘I am fasting.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1904)

This response isn’t passive; it’s powerful. It’s a declaration of control, the very thing Shayṭān seeks to strip away. Fasting, therefore, trains the believer to pause, to think, and to act with taqwā (God-consciousness), qualities that repel Shayṭān’s every attempt to provoke.

Purification of the Soul

Allah says in the Qur’an:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا • وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّاهَا

“He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it.”
(Surah ash-Shams, 91:9–10)

Fasting is one of the most direct means of this purification. The more one restrains the self, the more it is refined. The hunger of the stomach becomes nourishment for the soul. This is why the righteous predecessors used to say, “The soul gains life when the body tastes hunger.”

Through fasting, the believer learns detachment, from comfort, from pride, from constant gratification. It’s in the silence of hunger that the heart hears remembrance again. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is a gate in Paradise called ar-Rayyan. Those who fast will enter through it, and none but them.” (Sahih al-Bukhari1896)

This shows that fasting isn’t only a temporary act; it’s a lifelong badge of honour. It purifies the heart here, and it will be honoured there.

Ramadan and Spiritual Strength

The month of Ramadan magnifies everything fasting represents. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1899)(Sahih Muslim 1079)

During Ramadan, the believer tastes a serenity unlike any other. Why? Because with Shayṭān restrained and the nafs (lower self) disciplined, the heart is finally calm. One begins to realise that peace was never absent, it was only muffled by excess and sin. Fasting in Ramadan, therefore, isn’t just a ritual; it’s spiritual liberation.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ

“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’ān was revealed, as guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:185)

When the Qur’ān meets fasting, a miracle happens. The body quiets, the heart softens, and the soul hears revelation anew. Shayṭān’s whispering becomes faint, replaced by the calm rhythm of remembrance. That’s why the most spiritually charged nights of the year, the last ten of Ramadan, belong to those who truly fast with heart and body alike.

The Role of Sincere Intention

No act of worship is accepted without sincere intention (niyyah). The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Actions are but by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1)(Sahih Muslim 1907)

A person could be fasting from dawn to sunset yet still feed Shayṭān with anger, pride, or gossip. True fasting is not hunger of the stomach, but hunger of the ego. When fasting is done sincerely, Shayṭān loses his foothold entirely, because he thrives on insincerity and heedlessness. A pure intention, on the other hand, closes every door he tries to enter.

Fasting, then, becomes an act of truth. You fast not because you must, but because you love Allah more than food, comfort, or the whisper that says, “just one bite.”

Lessons from the Prophet ﷺ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ embodied the perfect balance of spiritual strength and humility. His fasting wasn’t limited to Ramadan; he would fast Mondays and Thursdays, and the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every lunar month. Aisha رضي الله عنها said:

“The Prophet ﷺ would fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and he would refrain until we thought he would never fast.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1970)(Sahih Muslim 1156)

His fasting was not out of ritual but love, love of purification, reflection, and nearness to his Lord. He ﷺ said:

“The one who fasts has two joys: one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7492)(Sahih Muslim 1151)

This joy is what distinguishes fasting from other acts of worship. It’s quiet, humble, and deeply internal. It teaches patience like no lecture can, gratitude like no possession can, and humility like no hardship can. Each pang of hunger whispers: “You are not self-sufficient.” And with that realisation, Shayṭān’s grip weakens even further.

One day, a companion asked the Prophet ﷺ for advice. He said:

“Fast, for there is nothing equal to it.” (Sahih an-Nasa’i, 2223; authenticated by al-Albani)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)