Samina Tariq
Calgary
Traditional wisdom and modern research both regards fasting as best preventive measure one can take towards healthy body and mind. Fasting is a shield from many illnesses of the body, mind and soul. It preserves the health and rids the body of harmful substances. Avicenna the great Muslim Physician used to prescribe fasting for three weeks sometimes more than that to heal the body.
Fasting Cleanse the Body: Evart M Looms writes in the “The New Health Model” about fasting, “The fasting can be most helpful in treatment of patients whose problems have such causes often not considered, like patients’ environment. These might include chemicals in the air, more than minimal diagnostic x-ray exposure, long hours Infront of television or use of microwave ovens, under fluorescent lights, might be drinking fluorinated and chlorinated water, even from the artificial materials used in clothing”.[3]
Most of us ruin all the health benefits by our eating habits. Whatever recipes were left during the year we want to have them in Ramadan. It not only destroys the detoxification process but also ruin our spiritual uplifting. Mindfulness and Simplicity is the key practice to follow in Ramadan in every matter.
What to Eat: Practice the healthy eating habits during Ramadan by eating natural, wholesome, nutritious and simple diet, whole wheat or whole grain bread, vegetables and nuts and seed, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, meat, chicken, in moderation. Avoid fried fatty and heavy foods, can food, frozen food, preservatives, additives, too much salty food and too many sweets and sugary foods.
Water: Usually, 8 glasses of water is recommended which is hard in Ramadan, increase your intake of liquid foods like soups, stews, low -fat milk, watery fruits along with sufficient amount of water.
Avoid too much sugary drinks and juices.
Do Not Combine: As a rule, you should not combine fruit and vegetable juices. Apples are the only fruit that should be added to the vegetable juices”. [1]
Rule of Moderation: Do not eat too much in Ifftar and Suhur, moderation is the key during Ramadan as well.
Eat your Suhur: It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Eat Suhur, for in Suhur there is a blessing.” [ Sahih (Darussalam), Sunan Ibn Majah 1692]
Break your Fast with Fresh Dates or Dried Dates or Water: Anas bin Malik narrated: & quote ;The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salat. If there were no fresh dates then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water.& quote ; [Hasan (Darussalam) Jami at -Tirmidhi -696].
Do not Delay Breaking your Fast: It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: & quote ;The people will remain upon goodness so long as they hasten to break the fast. Hasten to break the fast, for the Jews delay it.& quote; [ Hasan (Darussalam) Sunan Ibn Majah]
Fasting is for the health of soul, mind and body. Three rules to have a productive and beneficial Fast are Eat Less, Sleep Less and Talk Less. Galinus was once told that “Excessiveness in these matters causes sickness”. Fasting provides us the opportunity to practice these rules to heal our body mind and soul.
Ibrahim ibn Adham said,” Anyone who controls his stomach is in control of his Deen, and anyone who controls his hunger is in control of good behavior. Disobedience towards Allah is nearest to a person who is satiated with a full stomach, and furthest away from a person who is hungry.”
References:
1. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch CNC (5thEdition)
2. Medicine of the Prophet (Urdu) by hakim Aziz- ur- Rahman Azami.
3. Loomis Evart. M.D. (1996) Fasting “The New Health Model”
