History of Fasting: Adoption and Adaptation of Religions

 

History of Fasting: Adoption and Adaptation of Religions

Fasting in the Islamic Arab community, namely since it is obligatory in the 2nd year of H is carried out in the month of Ramadan, by the procedure of not eating, drinking, sexual intercourse from the rising of dawn (min thulû'i al-fajr) to the setting of the sun (ilâ ghurûbi ash- shams) for a whole month. Such procedures or "kaifiyah" of fasting, i.e. the exact same concept is not found in the fasting traditions of pre-Islamic Arab society.

Fasting known in pre-Islamic Arab society can at least be summed up into 4 types; fasting practiced by Jews, Christians, Shâbi`în, and adherents of the H anîf religion. These four religions developed in the Arabian peninsula before Muhammad SAW was sent as a prophet. Arab Jews live in Medina, Mecca, Khaibar and Yemen. Shâbi`în are in Sham, most Christians live in Sham and Yemen, followers of the Hanîf religion are in Mecca.

Although adherents of religions that developed in the pre-Islamic era lived in certain areas of the Arabian Peninsula, they often lived in Makkah for a while, namely when they were on trade trips. Pre-Islamic Mecca became a transit point for trade caravans from Syria that wanted to go to Yemen, and vice versa. This is where (one of them) the exchange and absorption of culture between religious adherents occurs. (Ahmad Amîn, Fajru al-Islâm, 1969: 12-14).

First; Jewish fast. Pre-Islamic Arab Jews had an obligation to fast on the day of 'Ashûrâ`, which is the tenth day of the first month. Arab Jewish timekeeping is the same as the Arabs after Islam came. It is very likely that the Arab-Islamic community adopted it from him.

In Arab-Islam, the day of 'Ashûrâ` occurs on the 10th of Muharram. What distinguishes the two calendars according to Ali al-Khathîb, in his book, Ash-Shiyâm mina al-Bidâyah H attâ al-Islâm, namely pre-Islamic Arab Jews added one month every 3 years. So, for 3 years once in 1 year can be up to 13 months. (1980: 173).

As for the procedure for Jewish fasting, namely not eating, drinking, and having intercourse starting from the setting of the sun on the 9th of the first month of the Hebrew year (as-sanah al-'abariyyah) until a gap of about a quarter of an hour after sunset on the 10th. - approx. 24 hours and 15 minutes. Fasting on the day of 'Asyûrâ` is also known as fasting on the day of “al-Kibûr” (Kipur) or called fasting on the day of forgiveness (yaum al-ghufrân) . Fasting other than today is recommended or not obligatory.

Second; Christian fasting. Christians who developed in the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula had a habit of fasting for 50 days, usually starting on Monday. The procedure is not to eat meat, milk and eggs. Other than these three are allowed.

Third; the Shabi`în fast. Followers of Shâbi`ah according to Ibn an-Nadîm as quoted by Ali al-Khathîb, perform mandatory fasting for 30 consecutive days and continue with the feast day (yaum al-'îd) . In addition they are also advised to fast on other days. (1980: 89, C. Blair, 1925: 109).

Fourth; Hanîf religious fast . The fasts practiced by the Quraysh who followed the Hanîf religion such as Prophet Muhammad's uncles, Abi Talib, Zaid and others were similar to the fasts practiced by the Jews. Apart from fasting, he also performs the 'uzlah ritual, which is to be alone to worship God in a cave in the mountains.

Then what about the fasting practiced by Muhammad Saw after he was sent as a prophet, namely fasting which was made obligatory in the 2nd year of H? Is it the same as fasting in pre-Islamic Arab society? The answer is in the next post.