The Wisdom Behind Fasting and Its Benefits

Below is a very nice article on the "wisdom behind fasting and its benefits" that I came across on a blog www.muftisays.com. I liked it and thought to keep it for my future reference therefore I am copying it here on my blog (with full reference to the source).

There are innumerable reasons and benefits of fasting. One of the most promenent is habituating oneself with controlling the carnal self. One thereby restrains one's innate desires, as a result of which those good deeds that are normally difficult to carry out become easier. One therefore is able to forsake sin and develops the qualities of piety and abstinence.

Allah سبحانه و تعالى says, "O you who have Imaan! Fasting has been made obligatory for you just as it was made obligatory for those before you (the Jews and Christians), so that you may develop Taqwa (fasting saves a person from sin because it develops self-restraint and drives away the passions that lead to sin.) - Surah Baqara 2:183

Fasting serves as a nutrition for the soul so that the soul gains strength by it. There is nothing as effective as fasting to curb carnal desires and purify the soul. Fasting opens the door to spirituality and lends vitality to one's acts of worship.
 

Reliable books of Ahadith mention that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم once asked, "O Allah! What brings a person closest to You?" Allah سبحانه و تعالى replied, "When a person is hungry and in Sajdah."

Another wisdom behind fasting is that people inculcate the qualities of Allah. Just as Allah سبحانه و تعالى does not need food, drink or carnal passions, the fasting person also does away with these during the fast. Similarly, he also then adopts the qualities of the angels عليهم الصلاة والسلام who are sustained on Dhikr and not on food. The fasting person also gets the golden opportunity to be grateful to Allah during the days of fasting, when he also sympathizes with the poor.

Furthermore, fasting purges the body of toxins and diseases and is especially effective in purging phlegm. Fasting harnesses the love of Allah سبحانه و تعالى and Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and raises a person's stages in the Aakhirah (Hereafter).

Allah سبحانه و تعالى says, "Fasting is for Me and I shall personally reward a person for it." - [Hujjatullah al-Baaligha Vol.1 pg 154]

Another of the thousands of reasons for fasting is that by fasting, a person is fulfilling the command of Allah سبحانه و تعالى, thereby gaining proximity to Him.

And Allah knows best what is most correct.

[Fatawa Rahimiyyah Vol.3 pg 118-119]

by: Mufti Abdur Raheem Lajpuri  رحمه الله

Original Post can is posted here:
http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Seifeddine-M/2976_01-08-2012/the-wisdom-behind-fasting-and-its-benefits.html