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Islam and Spiritualism ( 12 Apr 2023, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam

Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam

12 April 2023

Lesson 21: Fasting and Modern Science

The human body is a biological machine. The human body functions much like a machine. This biological machine also works in the same way as other machines work.

The human body is a machine that requires energy to function consistently by keeping all of its parts in the proper alignment and working together. In order for this machine to create the proper acts and the positive results of these activities on the body, morality, and soul, it also has to be serviced and overhauled. As a result, the creator of this machine mandated fasting in order for the human body to be pure and his acts to be pure and clean, enabling him to rise to a better position morally, psychologically, and spiritually. The soul of a human body is its nourishment, which, like petrol, burns and provides energy to the body, enhancing not just how well it functions but also how well it thinks and understands. This is similar to how the soul of a motor is the fuel. Let's examine how fasting affects the various organs and systems of our body.

An Improvement In Total Nutrition

Due to the somewhat longer time between meals during fasting, doctors assert that there is no physical weakness as a result. The body actually consumes the same amount of calories and water in a day as it does on non-fasting days. Furthermore, it is a known truth that people consume more protein and carbohydrates during Ramadan than they do on other days. In light of this, it may also be claimed that the body frequently has access to more total nutrients (calories) than it does on typical days, and the body also utilises waste products to meet its energy requirements.

Immune System Of The Body

Every natural remedy relies on the fact that nature has endowed the body with a defence mechanism or immune system that serves as a protective force against diseases. This immune system is in charge of always protecting the forces without using any special strategy. When using natural treatments, one should select strategies that could strengthen the immune system rather than weaken it. Abstaining from eating and drink is one method for boosting the immune system. As one abstains from eating and drinking, the body's energy, which was previously only utilised to digest food, starts to build up and is put to use by the immune system and the removal of diseases from the body. For this reason, it is believed that fasting has strong healing energy.

Positive Effects On The Heart

When someone is fasting during the day, their blood volume decreases. The heart is greatly relaxed as a result of this effect. Most importantly, the decrease in intercellular fluid has a major relaxing effect on cellular activity. Fasting enhances the health of these cells because it is the only way for the epithelial cells, also known as "epithelial cells," that line the upper surface of the salivary membrane to rest and relax. The stress on the muscles is also lessened. This diastolic pressure on the muscles is very important for the heart. Fasting typically results in low diastolic pressure, which puts the heart at rest.

Furthermore, because of the unique circumstances of modern life, men nowadays are more susceptible to extreme stress or hypertension. Ramadan fasting for one month has several advantages for people, notably in terms of lowering diastolic blood pressure. The most significant impact of fasting is on blood vessels and circulation. The inability to completely dissolve the remains in the blood is one of the most significant factors contributing to the weakness and deterioration of the blood vessels.

Many of the nutritional particles in the blood dissolve while fasting, especially right before Iftar. Nothing remains out of them. Consequently, fat or other substances do not stick to the blood vessel walls. The consequence is protection against artery narrowing. Nevertheless, fasting is the greatest way to avoid arteriosis, one of the most deadly diseases of the modern day, which hardens the artery walls. As the kidneys, an organ of the circulatory system, are in a state of rest while one is fasting, the blessing of fasting also restores the strength of these bodily organs.

Prevention Of Heart Attack

Heart attack risk factors include obesity, chronic stress, diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking. By removing all of these risk factors, fasting helps avoid heart attacks. Almost all cardiac patients also gain a lot from fasting. The cause is that 10% of the blood the heart pumps to the body on days when one is not fasting goes to work for the digestive system. Contrarily, since there is less food available and the digestive system is less active when someone is fasting, less blood is needed to digest food. As a result, the heart needs to work very little and rest a lot.

Body and Mind in Harmony

Dr. Sulaiman of the University Hospital of Jordan noted that during Ramadan, 42 men and 26 women lost an average of two kilogrammes of weight each. According to the research of Dr. Aziz at Tehran University, a weight loss of up to 4 kg has been noted in normal people during Ramadan. It has been seen that people who use slimming services regain weight after dieting, and some even do so by gaining more weight. This is due to the fact that the part of the brain called ‘Hypothalamus’ controls the weight of a person. This part responds quickly to dieting, which causes weight to be regained. Strangely, this part does not move as quickly while fasting because it is a spiritual practise in which the body and the mind are in harmony. The outcome is that weight loss is ensured. Even people who are quite thin can benefit from fasting. When they resume their regular eating and drinking practises after the 30-day fasting phase, they will gain more weight than before.

Fresh Blood Production

During fasting, when the nutrients in the blood are at their lowest level, the bone marrow becomes active. Lean persons can therefore easily increase their blood production when fasting. The liver receives the essential rest while fasting. It supplies enough materials for the bone marrow to quickly and abundantly make blood.

Blood Cells

The blood has a large proportion of red cells compared to few white cells. According to specialists, when fasting, the body temperature drops, but when true hunger strikes again, the temperature tends to restore to its previous level. The body temperature also rises a little bit after the fast is broken and food is consumed. Blood purification continues after fasting. It is frequently observed that red blood cell counts rise in anaemic patients. According to one observation, merely 12 days of continuous fasting causes the amount of blood cells to expand from 5 lakh to 32 lakh.

Lung Cleansing

Since the lungs are responsible for cleaning the blood, fasting has an immediate impact on them. If the blood is frozen in the lungs, this problem is promptly resolved due to fasting. This is as a result of the air ducts being cleaned. Remember that when you fast, your lungs expel wastes more quickly. The blood is effectively cleaned, and as a result, a wave of health permeates the entire body.

Fasting And Diabetes

The best way to cure diabetes, according to Professor Mahmood Ali Malik, dean of Dr. Iqbal Medical College, is to lower the dosage for individuals who are taking food or medication for the condition. The ideal opportunity for this is during fasting. Doctors now suggest dieting as a treatment in western nations. If too much food is not consumed during Sehri and Iftar, fasting is particularly effective at lowering blood sugar levels. Now that once-daily medicines are available, diabetic people can easily fast.

Fasting and the Prevention of Cancer

As a result of recent research, it has been surprisingly revealed that fasting prevents cancer. It prevents the growth of cancer cells in the body. When fasting, glucose levels are low and the body burns fat for energy. Also created during this process are ketone bodies, which stop the protein from disintegrating into smaller pieces. Cancer cells need small protein particles for their growth. During fasting, these particles are less produced, which prevents cancer.

Psychiatric Disorders

Fasting has advantages for diseases that are solely psychological as well. If you've ever eaten poorly, you've probably noticed that your dreams contain ominous objects and terrifying images. Men start to despise working as a result of the mental issue. So, it should be clear that fasting also aids in the treatment of psychiatric problems. Fasting can be used to treat hysteria, melancholia, and insomnia brought on by toxic substances in the body. Another of these conditions, glandular illnesses, are similarly treated and healed by fasting. Similar to how people with colon disorders benefit tremendously from fasting, several allergy conditions also benefit from fasting. Fasting cleanses the blood and eliminates the poisonous substances from the body, which cures the insanity brought on by toxic substances in the blood. Fasting is crucial if there has been mental trauma that interferes with its actions. Fasts should be observed in this situation until the mental condition is improved and the five senses start working correctly.

Fasting: An Spiritual Nourishment

This interesting situation is beyond the comprehension of the materialistic mentality. The majority of the body's diet consists of foods high in nutrients, vitamins, and carbohydrates, such as meat, fish, eggs, bread, rice, milk, vegetables, and fruits. Eating these items in balance allows one to get more energy and nourishment than they need. These substances serve as sustenance for the body. Contrarily, starvation or fasting is the food of the soul. The power that hunger gives the soul increases with its duration. Hunger is a spiritual and illuminating food, despite the fact that it may sound unusual to state. The reason for this is that consuming material food causes the body to produce material energy, which sometimes intoxicates a person and turns them into a slave to lust. Sometimes the individual begins making such absurd ideas and engaging in barbaric behaviour for self-gratification, which is not only unpleasant, repugnant, and immoral, but also detrimental to mankind. On the other hand, hunger or fasting makes the body lethargic. Moral behaviour is consequently polished and no lustful force is generated. Following that, there is no longer any passion or desire for sin in the heart. As a result, the soul is transformed into a mountain of strength and a sky of glory.

(This article by S. M. Noor was published in the Urdu magazine “Faizan-e-Makhdoom Ashraf”.)

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Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand