Recently, social media and international websites have discussed extensively the benefits of fasting for preserving immunity. Among these was a tweet stating:
Text of the post:
A study shows that fasting replaces old white blood cells with new ones. These cells defend the body and therefore strengthen immunity.
Comment:
1. Fasting is among the most important acts of worship, and fasting Ramadan is a pillar of Islam. In its reality, Islam means submitting oneself to God through sincerity in action and following the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Foregrounding such studies provides neither sincerity in action nor adherence to the Prophet’s guidance.
2. God prescribed fasting with piety as its end, explicitly stated in the noble verse: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety” [al-Baqarah: 183]. Piety means obeying God’s commands and avoiding His prohibitions, realising servitude to Him, seeking His pleasure and Paradise, and guarding against His punishment and anger. Worship with an intention other than this is rejected action. God says: “Whoever desires worldly life and its adornment, We repay them fully for their deeds therein and they are not deprived. They are those who have nothing in the hereafter but the Fire. What they did therein comes to nothing, and their deeds are vain” [Hud: 15-16].
3. The correct objective of fasting is realising servitude to God. This is the foundation that must be made prominent. Benefits resulting from fasting, if valid, may be used within narrow limits: for example, to show the worldly benefits God has placed in worship, encouraging His servants and demonstrating that this law brings well-being in this world and the hereafter, or to answer those who belittle fasting and claim that it harms people. Such studies may be used in reply to them. But these benefits must not become the foundation of discourse about fasting generally.
4. Among the most effective ways to strengthen people’s immunity is to educate them to realise the servitude to God for which they were created, the reason and end of sending the messengers. People’s need for immunity against desires and doubts that weaken their connection with God in worship and humility before Him is greater than their need for immunity aimed at preserving this perishable body.
5. This comment does not diminish the importance of preserving health or seeking treatment. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded treatment and gave principles for preserving health in more than one hadith. It is a reminder and warning so that such discussion is not exploited to distort the purpose of worship, invert the objectives of Islamic law and substitute means for ends, causing greater harm than the supposed benefit. True life is the life of the hereafter. God says: “This worldly life is nothing but amusement and play. The abode of the hereafter is truly life, if only they knew” [al-Ankabut: 64]. God knows best.
For more, see:
– The Major Objectives of Fasting.
– Refuting the Utilitarian Interpretation of Fasting.