Fasting Across Faiths: Can We Restore Our Moral Compass?
The Ramadan fast for Muslims begins on or about March 1 this year. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar, and fasting is an integral aspect of all Abrahamic faith traditions. In the Qur’an 2:183, we find: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.”
Christians fast for 40 days during Lent in recognition of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. The Bible states: “And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus 34:28)
Those of the Jewish faith fast on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This command is found in Leviticus 16:29–31: “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work… It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls.”
Since The Almighty commanded fasting for all three Abrahamic faiths, it must be essential for human spiritual development. What can be learned by denying oneself food and drink? As our bodies experience hunger, in what ways is our spiritual self being developed?
First, fasting helps us focus on our Creator rather than satisfying our physical appetites. This helps us remember that our spiritual development is more important in the sight of The Almighty than our physical appearance. Whether we are tall or short, white or Black, rich or poor, in the eyes of our Creator, only our spiritual growth matters.
While exercising a conscious desire to grow nearer to our Creator, we reflect on our past actions. We can then pray for forgiveness for our thoughtless and ungrateful attitudes and behaviors. The self-discipline of fasting teaches us to control our desires and resist the temptation to engage in beliefs and actions that destroy our spiritual self. Our increase in prayer and worship helps us to be more conscious of our actions and responsibilities. This introspection gives us a sense of compassion for others.
Decline in Spiritual Consciousness
Contemporary researchers suggest that divinely guided moral consciousness is declining in America. Recent polls indicate that only about 30% of our citizens participate in regular worship services. During the 1700s, between 70% and 90% of the population engaged in regular worship practices. This widespread moral awareness contributed to transformative events such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, today’s decline in collective God-consciousness is having devastating effects on equity and social justice. Greed, individualism, and self-interest are becoming our new national norms.
Over the past twenty years, we have witnessed the moral decline of our political and business leaders. The once prevalent concern for the well-being of all has gradually been supplanted by a rationalized pursuit of individual wealth and power. Corruption has led to a prioritization of profit over equity and social justice. The wealth gap is broadening due to legislative actions and business policies that punish poor and working-class people while favoring the wealthy and politically powerful.
This is the backdrop against which the Fast of Ramadan begins. With the widespread apathy, greed, and self-interest that challenge American society today, fasting — for all those of the Abrahamic faiths — may be a path to enlightenment in a nation plunging into an abyss of spiritual darkness. Working together for equity and social justice is the path to which The Almighty invites all people of faith.
