The Higher Objectives of Fasting: Wisdom and Purpose of Its Decree

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)