Ramadan is Innocent

This is a very informative and inspirational video regarding the benefits of fasting, i.e. the wisdom behind Allah commanding it, as well as the benefits of eating less in general. In addition to being worship of our Lord and Creator, we should also view Ramadan as an opportunity to heal and repair our bodies. We should give our digestive systems a rest and allow our bodies to cleanse themselves. As you will see in the video, it's not so much the fasting that we need to focus on but how we break our fast. After some dates and some water or milk, what are we going to eat and how much? Sumo wrestlers actually fast for several hours and then eat a huge meal all at once in order to gain weight, so we should bear that in mind.

The information in the video also dovetails nicely with what Imam al-Ghazali has said on protecting the stomach as well as contemporary fitness trainers like Steve Maxwell, who says that eating less is the fountain of youth. Please check out his excellent interview on undereating, intermittent fasting, fasting in order to cure yourself and other beneficial information. Please note that the man is in his early sixties and is in fantastic shape. Ma sha Allah.

The episode is called 'Ramadan is Innocent' because Ramadan, i.e. fasting, is not to blame for the fatigue and exhaustion that a lot of us feel in this month. Rather, we should look at what we're eating, how we're breaking our fasts and how much sleep we're getting. So many majors battles of Islamic history took place in Ramadan and the Muslims were victorious. We should actually be feeling more energetic in this time.

Last but not least, we have to address the power of suggestion. We need to be wary of telling ourselves that we're going to feel weak and tired because we're not eating and drinking. We should remind ourselves that this month is for our benefit, spiritually and physically, and therefore we should be both spiritually and physically uplifted. Allah would never legislate something that would harm us.

And with Allah alone is every success. May Allah grant us all a beneficial, uplifting and healthy Ramadan, ameen! 

و الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلاة و السلام على رسول الله