Secrets of fasting

Fasting cures many chronic diseases in the digestive system such as colon spasms and digestive disorders because it activates and organizes the blood cells, the brain and the heart. Also fasting reduces weight and maintains the body against poisons. God the Almighty says, “And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (Sura Al-Baqarah, ayah 184).

Fasting is an effective method to protect us from psychological disorders and there are many studies to confirm that fasting helps in treating depression and to calm down hyperactive positions in the brain where drugs fail to treat these chronic psychological disorders.

A medical fact says, “Fasting renews the blood cells.” From the first moment of fasting cells start to renew themselves especially the blood cells and the lazy cells start to work effectively. Scientists say that fasting is a continuous maintenance and cleaning operation for the entire body, as the body needs that kind of maintenance once a year! The scientists say that fasting cures more than one hundred disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetic, chronic asthma, respiratory diseases, heart diseases, arteriosclerosis‏ and many liver diseases and skin diseases such as allergy and chronic eczema.

Many researchers say that fasting is a treatment for many diseases and is an effective weapon against heart diseases, cancer and prevents the formation of dementia and brain attack. Here we realize why the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says in the prophetic hadith, “Fasting is a protection.” (Narrated by Muslim). Recently scientists have studied the healing effects of fasting and they concluded that fasting is the best method for treating accumulated poisons in the cells!

Fasting has many magnificent effects as it preserves our cells and is considered to be the most successful method to eliminate various diseases, viruses and bacteria. In fact there are many centres in some western countries that perform healing by fasting! Despite the failure of modern medicine to treat some cases, fasting has succeeded. God the Almighty orders us to fast as He says in the Koran, “And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (Sura Al-Baqara, ayah 184).

One of the marvelous facts is that eating dates organizes functions of the liver and helps to getting rid of poisons. Breaking fasting by eating dates is considered to be the best natural medicine to maintain the liver from accumulated poisons. Also researchers confirm that regularly eating dates prevents liver diseases. Now we understand why the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to break his fasting by eating dates and that he also used to eat dates every morning.

Dates contain a group of vitamins, minerals and sugars that are easily absorbed. They control the feeling of hunger and gives the fasting person a sense of satiation. So, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, “When you break your fasting, make it with dates because it is a blessing.” (Narrated by Abu- Dawood). This is the most recent advice by today’s nutrition experts. Scientists found that fasting does not harm diabetics, as long as they are under medical supervision.

They say the reason behind this is the good and stable psychological status of fasting diabetics, as they are surrounded by calm and peace where disorders and anxiety are far away and this helps in the effective organization of the work of different organs such as functions of the pancreas. Many scientific studies have shown that fasting is a free way to renew and activate cells of the body, as fasting doubles the life of these cells.

Hence scientists confirm that there is a direct relation between fasting and long life and good health. Fasting is the best way to clean cells and thus delays aging. Many chronic and high blood pressure patients are treated by chemical medicines with limited results. But fasting is a good treatment for those patients, as recent studies have proved that giving up eating and drinking for limited periods purifies the body from poisons and reduces cholesterol and blood fats. Therefore, fasting is an ideal treatment for some chronic diseases.

Recently, researchers found that fasting is a good and cost-free method of treating respiratory system diseases because they believe that stopping eating and drinking helps to activate and organize lung functions and they assure us that different respiratory chronic diseases may be eliminated when a patient starts fasting. Many studies confirm that fasting treats many heart diseases, as frequent fasting makes the heart more active and live longer than the hearts of the others. Fasting is also a good treatment for arteriosclerosis. How excellent it is, if we hear the Koran during fasting, as together they will produce great healing effects and God the Almighty says, “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun.” (Sura Al-Baqara, ayah 183).

The production of the sexual hormone during fasting is considered to be nil, so the fasting makes the psychological status more stable, leading to the increasing of submissiveness. Hence fasting decreases the sexual status of the fasting person to minimum levels. Here we understand why Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) orders youth who do not have the financial ability to marry to practice fasting! Glory be to God! Fasting is the main weapon used by preventive medicine; scientists say that fasting gives us in days what medicine can give us in years and without any negative consequences. Because fasting enhances the performance of the entire body, treats high levels of fats and makes the body get rid of cholesterol, especially if the fasting person practices some exercises such as walking to the mosques.

BY ABDULDAEM AL-KAHEEL www.kaheel7.com/eng