Overeating during Iftar defeats true essence of fasting

Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha morning prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on the first day of the holiday marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage, on June 16, 2024. [AFP]

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, the renowned scholar, jurist, theologian, and mystic, offers a profound exploration of fasting in one of his most celebrated works, Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din (The Revival of Religious Sciences).

In this seminal text, he delves into both the outward and inward principles of fasting, placing particular emphasis on what he terms the 'secrets of fasting'-a deeper, spiritual understanding of this sacred practice.

Imam al-Ghazali draws an analogy between fasting and a fruit encased within two layers of husk: an outer shell and an inner covering that protects the core. He suggests that many people expend their efforts safeguarding the husks while neglecting the pith, the essence of the fruit. In the same way, he argues, worshippers may focus on the physical aspects of fasting while overlooking its deeper spiritual significance.

This principle is particularly relevant when considering contemporary food culture during Ramadan. While Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk, the breaking of the fast (Iftar) has, in many cases, evolved into a lavish feast rather than a simple, moderate meal.

Al-Ghazali's insights highlight that fasting is fundamentally a discipline intended to cultivate self-restraint and moderation.

He warns against excessive consumption at Iftar, stating: "When breaking his fast, a person should not overeat, for there is no vessel more abominable unto Allah than a belly stuffed with lawful food. The spirit of fasting is to weaken the flesh, which is Satan's tool for inducing evil."

Al-Ghazali also cautions against complacency after completing a fast, advising that one should not assume their efforts have automatically been accepted by God. Instead, he encourages a balance between hope and humility: "The heart should remain in a state of suspense between fear and hope, for one does not know whether their fast will be accepted or rejected."

Beyond dietary restraint, al-Ghazali stresses the necessity of spiritual vigilance. True fasting, he argues, extends beyond mere abstinence from food and drink; it encompasses the purification of one's senses. This means guarding one's sight, tongue, hearing, hands, and feet from sin.