Results of aMuslima’s Survey on How Sunnah Fasting Will Help You Perform Better in Life

THE RESULTS ARE IN! 

aMuslima published several writings on obligatory fasting (Ramadan) and sunnah fasting such as fasting on Mondays and Thursday, fasting in the middle of the month of Hijr calendar (13th,14th,15th), or fasting as did the the Prophet Daud (AS). We also have talked about fasting in the sacred months in addition to Ramadan such as Rajab, Sha’ban, and Muharram.

Sunnah fasting is an exercise for every Muslim for resisting his/her anger, reducing useless activities, improving his/her relationship with the Lord, and also as a practice for completing the obligatory fasting, Ramadan, which is just a few weeks away. It is even said that the heavenly door Babu Ar Royan is intended for people who are accustomed to fasting. 

From Sahl bin Sa’ad who said: Rasulullah (SAW) said: “There is a door to heaven called Al-Rayyan through which only fasting people are admitted. It will be asked; where are the fasting people? No one is admitted through that door except them. When they have entered, the door will be closed and no one else can get through it.” (Hadith narrated by Bukhari Muslim).

Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is one of the fastings that was performed by the Prophet (SAW), as noted in the following hadith:

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (SAW) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 745; al-Nasaa’i, 2361; Ibn Maajah, 1739; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1044).

... Then he was asked about fasting on Monday, he (the Prophet, SAW) replied: “It was the day I was born, the day I was raised up, and the revelation was sent down to me.” (Hadith narrated by Muslim).

In the hadith of Usama it is stated that Monday is the day that all deeds are reported and the Prophet (SAW) liked to fast when the deeds were reported.

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aMuslima held a mini-survey on the most widely experienced benefits of sunnah fasting, specifically for Mondays and Thursdays. Based on the data received, 10.71% of respondents said that sunnah fasting (routine and non-routine) can resist the passion of anger, 35.71% feel healthier, 20.54% feel that sunnah fasting not only can help resist anger but also can promote a healthier body, while the remaining of 33.04% feel other benefits.

Most of the respondents (35.71%) who said that fasting makes their body healthier said so due to the following reasons: his/her body become lighter since weight is maintained, appetite is controlled, and cholesterol and blood sugar levels are better. It is important to note that the main purpose of their fasting was to seek the blessing of Allah (SWT) and not for dieting or health reasons. There’s even a respondent who previously had lumps in the lymph nodes of the neck but after performing regular sunnah fasting for the last 4 years the bumps have deflated. Subhanallah.

The second choice of most respondents (33.04%) indicated getting other benefits. Most respondents stated that with sunnah fasting they feel calmer, more peaceful, and closer to Allah (SWT). Moreover, since fasting is an exercise of self-control, they said that it makes them become more concerned for others, that they feel the desire to live luxuriously, that they become more orderly, and are more diligent in worship. In fact there are some respondents who said that when they are fasting they become more efficient and more productive at work.

Surely every one of Allah (SWT)’s commands provide benefits for Muslims who do it, as the Holy Qur’an is a guidance to those who fear Allah (SWT).

Wallahu A’lam

Illustration by A.a. Sumadri

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