History of Fasting: Adoption and Adaptation of Religions (Section II)

 

History of Fasting: Adoption and Adaptation of Religions

This article is still about fasting by pre-Islamic Arabs (also a continuation of the article https://islami.co/sejarah-fast-adopsi-dan-adaptasi-agama-agama-bag/ ) The aim is to find out that fasting is not a ritual. which is only practiced by Muslims, but long before Islam came the Arabs had already practiced it.

Why should the Arabs be discussing this matter? The answer is simple, because Prophet Muhammad lived in Arabia. By examining the socio-historical context of pre-Islamic Arabia, the influence and novelty of Islamic teachings can be identified.

Jawwâd 'Ali in his book, Al-Mufashshal fî Târîkh al-'Arab Qabla al-Islâm, informs the opinion of historians who narrates that the Quraysh, including the Prophet Muhammad, before Islam came to fast on the day of 'Ashhurâ`, the aim was to remove sins and thank God for the blessings that have been given. Jawwâd 'Alî doubted this narration, because according to him the 'Ashura' fast was only practiced by the Jews of Medina and Khaibar. While the Quaisy people worship idols on average. (1993: VI, 339-342).

If the above information is correct, it is very likely that the Quraysh who fasted on the day of 'Ashour' were the Hanif people who had indeed transformed the Jewish traditions of Medina to be implemented in Mecca.

Al-Bukhâr in his encyclopedia of hadith narrates that the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, 'Âisha had said: “In pre-Islamic times the Quraysh fasted on the day of 'Shurâ`. Likewise with the Prophet Muhammad. When the Prophet migrated to Medina, the Prophet continued to fast 'Ashura' and ordered his companions to participate in fasting. When fasting in Ramadan was obligatory, the Prophet abandoned the 'Ashura' fast. Those who wish to fast on the day of 'Shur' are welcome, those who wish to leave it are also welcome." (HR. Bukhari, No. 2002).

Through the above narrations, it can be understood that fasting was widely known among the pre-Islamic Arab community, especially in the Jewish community in Medina and Khaibar. The Quraysh knew about fasting apart from their encounters with Jews, but also from followers of the Hanif religion such as the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, Abdul Muttalib, Suwaid bin 'Amir, Abû Qais, and others .

The procedure and duration of fasting that developed in pre-Islamic Arab society was not the same as fasting that was practiced by Muslims, although it was essentially the same, namely refraining from eating, drinking and others.

Because of the familiarity of fasting in this pre-Islamic Arab tradition, the Koran when calling for the obligation of fasting for Muslims is immediately followed by the sentence of equality (tasybîh) with the obligations of the previous people, ka mâ kutiba 'alâ al-ladzîna min qablikum (as [fasting] is obligatory). to those before you). (Surat al-Baqarah 183).

By examining the history of fasting which is not only "owned" by Muslims, it can be learned that many other Islamic rituals or traditions are also taking or imitating from previous religions. Therefore, there is no need to be "crowded" and "crowded" if there are Jews, Christians, or other religions that have ever developed in the Arabian Peninsula to perform worship, celebrations, or other religious expressions that are similar to Islamic rituals or traditions. This is not a form of "Judaization" or "Nashranization" in Muslim worship, but Islam has adopted it.