Fasting as a Way of Piety

 

Fasting as a Way of Piety

In Islam, there is an obligatory fast (fardu) and there is a sunnah fasting (tathawwu'). The fasting that is obligatory is like fasting in the month of Ramadan and fasting kafarat or fasting that is carried out as a substitute for certain violations during Ramadan fasting and when performing Hajj. Meanwhile, fasting that is voluntary is like fasting Monday and Thursday, fasting six days before the month of Shawwal, fasting David and so on.

In essence, fasting is a path to piety. Where in exploring that path, a Muslim does not just refrain from appetite, drinking, sex, and so on. More deeply, fasting is intended so that Muslims carry out universal contemplation of their lives. With this dimension, every Muslim is encouraged to go back up and improve and increase his piety.

As the word of Allah stated in the letter Al-Baqarah verse 183. "O you who believe, fasting is obligatory on you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may become pious."

Piety also means self-serving God and humans. Serve God by performing rituals that have been regulated in the teachings of fiqh, such as fasting, prayer, zakat, remembrance, and other ritual worship. While serving humans is how we are able to transform the noble values ​​of Islam into social life. Which means, piety is the embodiment of individual piety and social piety.

So, in carrying out fasting, we should stay away from the tendency of riya, arrogant and things that can injure our individual piety and social piety. In addition, fasting should not only be used as a means to show self-glory. Indeed, if we behave like this, we will only be trapped in things that are actually opposed by the meaning of fasting itself.

Through this reflection, every Muslim is expected to be able to learn the wisdom of fasting as a way of self-enlightenment, intellectually or spiritually. Not only in the relationship among Muslims, but also with other religious people. In addition, by fasting, we should provide opportunities for spiritual metamorphosis which has an impact on a more dynamic life and is able to achieve the essence of piety.