Spiritual, Health, & Psychological Benefits of Ramadan Fasting

Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. It has been made obligatory for all able Muslims to fast during Ramadan. However, did you know that there are countless other benefits of Ramadan fasting apart from religious rewards and blessings?

From boosted metabolism to controlled cholesterol levels, the benefits of fasting in Ramadan cover a wide range of health advantages.

Moreover, fasting during Ramadan also has spiritual and psychological benefits as well. Today, we will be discussing a few notable benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan.

What Are the Benefits of Ramadan Fasting for Muslims?

As mentioned earlier, the benefits of Ramadan fasting cover every aspect of a Muslim’s life, be it health, spirituality, or mental clarity. We will start by discussing the health benefits of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

1. Best Possible Ways to improve your health during Ramadan

Ramadan is that time of the year that gives you a perfect chance to improve your health through fasting. It has been revealed that fasting comes with a plethora of health benefits. Let’s discuss a few below.

Ramadan Fasting Reduces Toxins in Our Bodies

The health benefits of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan include weight loss, improved heart function, and blood pressure readings. Fasting is proven to remove toxins from our bodies. Fasting enhances the production of certain enzymes that aid in detoxification and enhances the health of your liver.

While fasting, when you abstain from consuming any solids, your body detoxifies itself and removes any harmful toxins present in your system. Moreover, fasting gives your body a break in which it can cleanse itself and result in much better organ functionality.

Fasting Helps to Reduce Weight

Fasting is the key to weight loss. If you\’re struggling with shedding a few pounds that you have put on, you can rely on fasting for a quick weight loss. While fasting, our body goes through a temporary starvation process, due to which the stored fat is converted into energy for usage.

Intermittent fasting has been proven to aid weight loss based on the systematic evaluation of 40 research. Based on the research, an average loss of 7-11 pounds can be seen over 10 weeks. Hence, in this way, fasting contributes to weight loss significantly.

Fasting Helps Control Blood Pressure

Fasting allows for a controlled blood pressure level, improving our overall health. Fasting, according to researchers, boosts parasympathetic activity, popularly known as the \”rest and digest\” state, which lowers blood pressure. Research shows that fasting can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, control diabetes, and reduce weight.

Fasting Improves Your Immune System

Regular fasting in Ramadan results in improved functionality of the immune system. While fasting, the body focuses uninterruptedly on the immune system instead of digestion. Our Immune system depends on white blood cells, and fasting promotes the recycling of old white blood cells resulting in an enhanced immunity.

Fasting Controls Your Blood Sugar

Intermittent fasting has several advantages beyond weight loss. Because it improves blood sugar regulation, boosts stress tolerance, and suppresses inflammation, studies show it can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Intermittent fasting has been proven in a few studies to promote weight loss and lower insulin requirements in persons with diabetes mellitus, including kinds 1 and 2, when done for health reasons.

2. Spiritual Benefits During Fasting for Muslims in Ramadan

Apart from the countless health benefits of fasting, there are many spiritual benefits. Let’s discuss a few spiritual benefits of fasting in Ramadan.

Closeness to Allah (SWT)

Fasting isn’t just a physical act of staying away from consuming food and water, but it is an act of self-control for the sake of Allah (SWT). While fasting, a Muslim is on the closest level to his creator! This is why a lot of Muslims perform good deeds during Ramadan.

“There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.”

Self Purification

Apart from getting a chance to get closer to Allah (SWT), fasting gives us a chance to get rid of any of our stubborn misdeeds and sins. While fasting, one indulges in more worship and prayer than usual, avoiding any of the sins that bring in temporary worldly pleasures.

As the Hadith says: “There is a Zakat for all things, and the Zakat of the body is fasting.” (Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1745) Here, the expression Zakat is used in the sense of purification. There is, indeed, a way of purifying everything. Just as bathing purifies the body, so fasting purifies the soul.

Higher Self Control

It takes a lot of self-control and dedication to restrain yourself from eating and drinking from dawn till dusk for an entire month. Hence, when you fast regularly for the month of Ramadan, the level of your self-control increases.

The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad (​​PBUH), said that if a person does not control their senses and behavior, God does not require that person to refrain from eating. Over beloved Prophet also said that if someone verbally abuses you, acts ignorantly towards you, or even hurts you, you should respond by only saying, “I am fasting; I am indeed fasting.”

3. Psychological Benefits of Fasting Ramadan

Along with physical health benefits, fasting results in improved mental health. Let’s discuss a few psychological benefits of fasting during Ramadan.

Fasting Reduces Anxiety and Stress

Several pieces of research show that fasting helps improve your mood by alleviating feelings of anxiety and stress.

Fasting Gives You a Sense of Achievement

Watkins and Serpells revealed that fasting gifts you a sense of pride and achievement. When you fast, you\’re likely to feel a sense of accomplishment. You\’ve pushed yourself to do something that\’s not always easy. Fasting can help you develop a greater sense of self-discipline, leading to other areas of your life.

Fasting Improves Your Memory

Multiple reports have concluded that fasting results in improved memory by decreasing the caspase-1 activity throughout the brain.

Conclusion

Now that you are aware of a few benefits among countless benefits of Ramadan fasting, how beautiful does the concept of fasting seem to you?

Fasting might seem daunting as you are supposed to stay away from food and water for a significant portion of the day, but in reality, fasting is a blessing in disguise.

You can see how many benefits fasting holds for your health and mental well-being. May Allah (SWT) enable us to fast properly with true intentions this Ramadan!

If you want to earn maximum rewards in this holy month, help Ekplatebiryani fight hunger this Ramadan by donating as much as possible.