Response to Andrew Vargo's Article, "Responses to "Islamic Information" What Jesus on whom be peace said about Fasting"

Bassam Zawadi

Andrew Vargo's article can be found here.

Andrew said:

Fasting is not unique to Islam or Christianity, many Pagan religions also called for fasting. Christians, as well as Muslims, have not done well with this discipline. In spite of the Qur'an's instructions for Muslims to fast during Ramadan, more food is consumed it that month than at any other time of the year in most of the Muslim world. I have had dinner in a popular Pakistani restaurant in my area during Ramadan, on several occassions, and have seen Muslims sit impatiently waiting for the moment, of sunset, when they can devour the all-you-can-eat buffet. Also, in spite of general theme of Ramadan there are often many tensions in Muslim countries which frequently "boil over" and result in anger, fighting, and death during this month (Indonesia and Algeria are good examples).

My Response:

It is true that many Muslims do behave in such a manner, but you cannot blame the act of fasting on the actions of these people. This shows that they are not fasting according to the guidelines of Islam.

You cannot ignore the many benefits that fasting has given so many individuals, such as helping them quit smoking, develop more restraint over their physical desires in exchange for spiritual satisfaction, etc.

Andrew said:

It is wrong to force people to fast either privately or publicly. Jesus rightly criticized the religious hypocrites of his day who behaved in this way. If society (government or religious institutions) forces people to fast, it robs believers of the joy of obeying God out of love and replaces this love with obligation. This type of injunction (to force fasting) does not conform to the teachings of Jesus.

My Response:

The Islamic State cannot force people to fast privately since they are not supervising people at all times. However, to force people to fast publicly is acceptable and must be done in respect to those who are fasting.

The Islamic State should ensure that during the time of Ramadan, people do not eat openly in public in front of others who are fasting, for this would make it more difficult for them.

Thus, the Islamic State does not force non-Muslims to fast (how can they if they are not monitoring them the whole time); rather, they can force them to not openly display their eating and drinking in respect to Muslims who are already struggling to fast and don't need people to make it more difficult for them. Non-Muslims should be considerate enough to realize this and put some effort into eating in the privacy of their homes, cars, offices, etc.

Andrew said:

Jesus tells us that our fasting should be seen only by God. If fasting is public, instead of private, then we have already received our reward - the approval of society. If we fast in secret, then our reward is in heaven - with God. Once again, the Ramadan fast, since it is done publicly instead of privately, does not conform to the teachings of Jesus.

My Response:

This is correct.

Sheikh Salih al Munajjid explains this nicely:

Question:

What is special about fasting so that Allaah singled it out when He said, "Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it?".

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Al-Bukhaari (1761) and Muslim (1946) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah said: 'Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it.'"

Because all deeds are for the sake of Allaah and He is the One Who rewards for them, the scholars differed concerning this phrase, "Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it" - why is fasting singled out in this manner?

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) quoted the views of ten scholars who sought to explain the meaning of this hadeeth and why fasting was singled out in this manner. The most important of these views are as follows:

1 - That there is no showing off in fasting as may happen in other acts of worship. Al-Qurtubi said: Because showing off may enter into all good deeds, but no one can see when a person is fasting except Allaah, so Allaah connected it to Himself. Hence He said in the hadeeth, "He gives up his desire for My sake." Ibn al-Jawzi said: All acts of worship can be seen when done, and they may be contaminated with some element of showing off, unlike fasting.

2 - That what is meant by the words, "I shall reward for it" is: I am the only One Who knows the extent of his reward and how much his hasanaat (good deeds) will be multiplied. Al-Qurtubi said: What this means is that the amount of reward for good deeds may become known to people, and they will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold, and as much as Allaah wants, except fasting, for Allaah will reward it without measure. This is supported by a report narrated by Muslim (115) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Every deed of the son of Adam will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold. Allaah said: 'Except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it'" - i.e., I shall reward it greatly, without specifying how much. This is like the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning"

[al-Zumar 39:10]

3 - That what is meant by "fasting is for Me" is that it is the dearest of acts of worship to Me. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr said: The words "Fasting is for Me" are sufficient to indicate the superiority of fasting over all other acts of worship. Al-Nasaa'i (2220) narrated that Abu Umaamah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "You should fast, for there is nothing like it." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa'i.

4 - That fasting is mentioned in conjunction with Allaah by way of honouring, as we say, "the House of Allaah," although all houses belong to Allaah. Al-Zayn ibn al-Muneer said: giving a specific meaning to something general in a context such as this can only be understood as being by way of honouring

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

This hadeeth points to the virtue of fasting in numerous ways:

1 - Allaah singled out fasting for Himself from all other good deeds, because of its honoured status before Him, because He loves it and because it is a demonstration of sincerity towards Him, as it is a secret between a person and his Lord, which no one can see except Allaah. The fasting person may be in a place with no other people around, and he could eat or drink that which Allaah has forbidden to the fasting person, but he does not do that, because he knows that he has a Lord Who can see him even though he is alone and Who has forbidden that to him. So he forsakes it for the sake of Allaah and fearing His punishment, seeking His reward. Because of that, Allaah appreciates his sincerity and singled out fasting for Himself from among all other good deeds. Hence He said: "He gives up his desires and his food for My sake."

The benefit of this singling out will be seen on the Day of Resurrection, as Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah said: When the Day of Resurrection comes, Allaah will bring His slave to account and will settle any scores outstanding from the rest of his deeds, until when there is nothing left but fasting, Allaah will settle the matter and will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his fasting.

2 - Allaah said concerning fasting: "I shall reward him for it." So he connected the reward for fasting to Himself, because the reward for righteous deeds is mentioned by number, and a good deed will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold, many times. But with regard to fasting, Allaah connected the reward to Himself without specifying any number. Allaah is the most generous of those who are generous, and the gift reflects the generosity of the giver. So the reward of the one who fasts will be very great, without reckoning. Fasting is patience in obeying Allaah, patience in keeping away from the things forbidden by Allaah, and patience in bearing the decree of Allaah, hunger, thirst, physical and mental weakness. So it combines all three types of patience, thus the fasting person deserves to be counted as one of the patient, and Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning"

[al-Zumar 39:10]

Majaalis Shahr Ramadaan, p. 13 (Source)

Andrew said:

3. What is the motive for fasting? Can we please God by fasting and wash away our sins? No, only Jesus Christ can take away our sins. Fasting, or any other "work", does not makes us acceptable to a perfect God

My Response:

Yes, works alone cannot. Faith and work together could, though.

Andrew begs the question of whether Christianity is a true religion when he utters this statement. If Christianity is false (at least the Protestant understanding of it) then there is no rational/logical reason for us to not believe that acts of worship such as fasting cannot wash away our sins.

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