In the plight of fasting

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Wow! Two consecutive updates in two days is a milestone for me. Well, that signifies the free time that I still have to cherish during the second week of uni.

I'm actually quite impressed in how my day today went, الحمد لله (All praise due to Allah). It was really productive in the sense that I managed to complete one small report, did some revision on Mathematical Modelling, did some Dynamics tutorial questions and I managed to have the time to read two juzu' of Quran today despite having four hours of straight lecture in the morning.

What's the secret? How did I have so much time to do all that? Fasting? Bingo! It is very much self-explanatory I guess. 

..... But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know. (2:184)

Pondering on this verse, mankind wouldn't be able to think of such activity that seems tiring is actually very 'energizing' and beneficial. "If only you know." That was what Allah said in the Holy Quran and let's see why it is very beneficial (at least in my point of view).

I don't know if this applies to you guys, but I would like to ask, how many times have you guys feel so sleepy, tired and so forth after having a heavy meal? I'm pretty sure that's common among us. Thus the prophet Muhammad s.a.w. warned us to stop eating before we feel full. That's among our weakest state and therefore easy for the Syaitan (devil) and nafs (desire) to take control of ourselves. Fasting stopped this gateway for Syaitan and nafs to take control of ourselves thus preventing us from becoming LAZY.

Energy is also used to process the food that we eat. If we don't eat, there's nothing for our digestion system to process. Those energy can then be channeled towards our other activities. With respect to time, you don't 'waste' your time preparing / searching and eating meals. Thus you have plenty of extra time to do other things as well.

Fasting makes oneself always on the alert state - I saw some hot chicks walking down the street, "Oh, I'm fasting." One would quickly turn away and look at somewhere else. In that one simple example, fasting provides a really good training for Muslim to be fully obedient to Allah's command.

However, keep your guards on, those who fast! Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. warned us, most of us who fast didn't get any benefit out of it, except for thirst and hunger only. 

It's already the end of Rajab and Sya'ban is just around the corner. Let us all offer voluntary fast more often as that's what Rasulullah did as well during the month of Rajab and Sya'ban. It will also be a good training ground for us before the month of Ramadhan comes. Hopefully we will remain istiqamah (steadfast) in all our 'amal (good deeds). Let's pray to Allah and strive for the best. InsyaAllah.

والله علم

والسلام عليكم