The Higher Objectives of Fasting:
Wisdom and Purpose of Its Decree
By Dr. Siddiq Fadzil
In his book Maqasid al Sawm, Sheikh 'Izz al-Din Ibn' Abd al-Salam
al-Sulami al-Shafi'i presents a part of
the great framework of the higher objectives of shari’ah- maqasid
al-shari`ah which covers maqasid al-`ammah (general objectives), al-maqasid
al-khassah (specific objectives) and al-maqasid al-juz'iyyah (partial
particular objectives).
The term al-maqasid al-juz'iiyah refers to the reasoning (`illah),
wisdom and purpose behind a law. Indeed every law of shari'ah contains
wisdom and purpose, either expressed or implied.
Allah the Almighty the Most Wise, commands and ordains with purpose. That
is the case with fasting, which is clearly aimed at achieving various benefits
and spiritual accomplishments formulated
in that astounding word, taqwa.
What is required in fasting (and other rituals of worship), is not only the
implementation of the requirements and the tenets, but also the achievement of
wisdom and purpose.
Al-Shaykh al-`Izz (`Izz al-din) ibn` Abd al-Salam (578 - 660H) was able to envisage
and illuminate the fact that holistically, shari'ah is the realization
of maslahah (benefit and goodness for mankind).
This is revealed clearly and firmly in his work, Qāh`id al-Ahkam fi
Masalih al-Anam. The title of this work alone implies his thinking, in linking
the law and public concerns – higher human interest.
In his great work al-`Izz says that the shari'ah as a whole is geared
up towards either avoiding evil or bringing about goodness.
Hence, for every divine call in the Qur’an, "O you who believe, ...", it is
certain that the next message certainly about extolling the good to be gained
or the evil disadvantages to be avoided.
Thus the verse which obligates fasting (al-Baqarah: 183) also begins
with the call, "O believers, ...". The message that follows is the way
towards attaining taqwa, the peak of goodness that must be achieved by
fasting.
In the discussion of the division (types) of maqasid al-shari`ah
there is a category called maqasid ta`abbudiy or the divine goal of worship.
As mentioned in surah al-Dhariyat: 56, the purpose in the creation of jinn and humans is to submit
themselves to worship and devote themselves only to Allah.
Indeed, the mission of human life is total devotion to the Creator and, to
administer and care for His creatures (`ibadat al-khaliq wa islah al-makhluq).
Serving God means obeying His commandments and obeying His will. For that purpose,
mankind must escape the shackles of lust and selfish desires.
This maqasid or objective is emphasized by Shaykh al-Maqasid al-Imam
al-Shatibiy in his monumental masterpiece of al-Muwafaqat that states,
"The purpose of the shari'ah is to liberate people from the inclination
and impulse of selfish desires (... ikhraj al-mukallaf min daa`iyati air)
".
Thus, objectives of shari’ah in worship covers the goal of human
liberation from serving his lusts, or be free from making his desires as his
god.
Throughout the month of Ramadhan, the believer struggles to achieve this
objective of shari'ah, "liberation from the manacles of desires".
The fight against the self is mentioned in religious language as mujahadah.
The word mujahadah is a form of a word with the same roots as jihad,
to strive and fight to the utmost for a noble cause.
But mujahadah means continuous and repeated spiritual struggles.
Indeed, though lust can be defeated by mujahadah, however it will rise and
rise again despite the many number of times it is defeated.
Therefore, the fight against the self must also be continuous and steadfast.
Importantly, fasting gives us the confidence and conviction that we are
actually able to defeat lust.
In the life of a believer, the ability to defeat selfish desires is a
prerequisite to win in the face of any kind of opponent and in overcoming any
adversity.
This philosophy of life can be easily expressed: if one is able to resist
lust, then one will be able to defeat all adversaries; On the contrary, if you
fail to defeat your selfish desires, you will not be able to withstand all
others.
Knowledge of the aims of the fasting (maqasid al-sawm) will
certainly help improve the quality of worship. Our fast will be more meaningful
and effective, and we will not just be experiencing hunger and thirst.
Fasting is a worship and at the same time it trains and develops the
formation of a character of taqwa. The characteristics of the God Conscious
(al-muttaqin) are widely expressed in the Qur'an.
The word taqwa itself is defined by some scholars as vigilant
consciousness and inner alertness raised by the fear of Allah, hope for His
forgiveness and the love for Allah.
The actualization of a personality of taqwa is part of the
objectives of Shari’ah, especially to establish good morals as Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ said, "Verily I am sent to perfect
noble characters".
Worship (including fasting) is generally a matter of morality, in the sense
of being devoted and obedient to God.
Fasting is a deed of worship with the wisdom of moral education and
manners. Hence, those who are fasting are bound by a number of moral taboos as
discussed in the fasting rituals.
Therefore it is necessary to be governed not only by the legal, permissible
and impermissible aspects of the fiqh – the established rules, but also
the aspects of morals, manners, the essence and the spirit of fasting.
Hopefully our fast in Ramadhan this time around shall be better than it
ever was in the past. Welcome to Ramadhan’s rigorous celebration of intensive worship
in order to attain taqwa, God consciousness, achieve the purpose of
fasting thereby realizing the objectives and intentions of the Shari'ah.
(Introduction by Dr Siddiq Fadzil to the Malay translation of Sheikh 'Izz
al-Din Ibn' Abd al-Salam al-Sulami al-Shafi'i’s book, Maqasid al Sawm by
published by Institut Darul Ehsan) (This is an English rendition)
