From the wisdom of fasting

Selections from the speech of Sheikh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymain (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul)

The greatest wisdom of the permissibility of fasting is fearing Allah. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fast) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 183].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to the person who observes fasting: "If somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should say to him: I am fasting." This means that the fasting person will not insult the insulter or respond with the same, but he should say: I am fasting because a fasting person does not insult or curse because fasting is a shield that protects man from indulging into the boundaries of Allah and shall protect him from Hell Fire on the Day of Recompense.

• Training a person for hardship and fatigue because luxury, bliss, and the availability of food and drink will never last, so a person should train himself for enduring burdens.

• Breaking the haughtiness of oneself because if the soul enjoys all luxuries such as food, drink, and sexual intercourse, it shall become haughty, greedy, and shall forget others. It will have no other objective but meeting the desires of the belly and genitals, but when a person restrains himself and trains it for enduring hardship, hunger, thirst, he shall control and cultivate his soul properly.

• Fasting is a guide by which man remembers the blessings of Allah upon him such as facilitating of food, drink, and sexual intercourse.

• Fasting is a guide by which a person remembers the needy people who suffer hunger, thirsty, and lack of marriage, hence he shall feel pity for them, have mercy with him, and give them some of the blessings which Allah bestowed upon him.