Allah, The Most Exalted, does not make
obligatory that which does not benefit His servants
nor does He prohibit that which is not harmful. Some
of us may in fact recognise some of these benefits and
detriments on which divine commands and
prohibitions are predicated. Indeed, as Allah has
placed wisdom in His creations, He has also placed
wisdom in His Law. For Allah is Wise in His Actions.
He does not create something that has no value nor
does He enact a law that is frivolous or of no
significance.
Almighty Allah, in His Mercy and through His
Knowledge of man's complex nature, has mandated
fasting through gradual stages. In fact, this
progressive and forbearing method is not only evident
in fasting but in all that Allah has ordered and
prohibited. Take for example the prohibition of
alcohol.
Allah has regulated drinking gradually until
the last and final prohibition came in the verse
(which means): "O you who have believed, indeed,
intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to
other than Allah], and divining arrows are but
defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that
you may be successful." [Qur'an 5:90]
Stages in Mandating Fasting
As regards fasting, it was mandated through three
stages. In the first stage, Allah granted the believers a
choice to either fast Ramadan or feed a poor person
for each day of fasting. In the second stage, fasting
was made mandatory but if one happened to go to
bed before breaking one's fast, one would be obliged
to continue one's fast until the next day's Iftar time
(sunset). [Al-Bukhari, the Book of Fasting]
Later, these two stages were abrogated and Ramadan
fasting took the final shape that Muslims practice
today.
What is more, Allah, The Most Exalted, has made
feeding poor people an alternative to fasting for the
elderly or those who are unable to endure certain
challenging conditions. For travelers and the sick,
fasting is not obligatory but the days missed must he
fulfilled in the future, as soon as circumstances
permit, as Allah says (what means): "…and whoever
is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other
days.
Allah intends for you ease and does not intend
for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the
period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has
guided you; and perhaps you will be
grateful." [Qur'an 2:185]
Not only did Allah break down the obligation of
fasting into three stages, He also presented these
stages in an attractive and appealing fashion so that
we would willfully accept fasting and hope for its
rewards.
In the first stage, it was the option in choosing
whether to fast or feed the poor. Allah then coupled
this option with encouragement to mankind to fast,
as He, The Most Exalted, says (what means): "And
upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] -
a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person
[each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is
better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only
knew."
[Qur'an 2:184]
This stage of fasting paved the way for the following
stage- the last stage in which fasting is made absolute
and obligatory on all mankind in the verse (which
means): "The month of Ramadan [is that] in which
was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people
and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So
whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him
fast it." [Qur'an 2: 185].
However, the license to make it up still remains for
those with substantial excuses. And along with this
last stage, Allah has brought forth His Forgiveness
and Mercy, as He Says (what means): "It has been
made permissible for you the night preceding fasting
to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are
clothing for you and you are clothing for them.
Allah
knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He
accepted your repentance and forgave you." [Qur'an
2: 187]
No doubt, fasting in this flexible manner is a blessing
that deserves our gratitude. And for this very reason
Allah ended the verses of fasting with gratitude, such
as the verse (which means): "Allah intends for you
ease and does not intend for you hardship and
[wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify
Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and
perhaps you will be grateful." [Qur'an 2:185]
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