The Minimum Conditions of Fasting

Although fasting is defined in Islamic law (at the *ilmihāl* level) as abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse, its spiritual depth extends far beyond these limits.

Although fasting is defined in Islamic law (at the ilmihāl level) as abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse, its spiritual depth extends far beyond these limits. According to the source text, fasting is divided into three ranks: avām, khawāṣ, and akhāṣṣ al-khawāṣ. A true fast requires keeping the stomach empty while protecting the eye from the unlawful, the tongue from backbiting, the ear from idle talk, and the heart from worldly preoccupations. The document emphasizes that the fundamental purpose of fasting is the process by which a person restrains "animal" desires, approaches "angelic" qualities, and is molded by Allah's character.

1. The Ranks and Standards of Fasting

Fasting is divided into three main categories according to a person's spiritual maturity:

The Fast of the Common People (avām): The official limits and minimum ilmihāl conditions everyone must observe.

The Fast of the Elect (khawāṣ): The fast of righteous people who protect their limbs from sins.

The Fast of the Most Elect (akhāṣṣ al-khawāṣ): The fast of prophets and the truthful (ṣiddīqūn). At this station fasting becomes a special secret between Allah and His servant. This level has no "industrial" standard; each is like a work of art unique to the person.

2. The Fasting of the Senses and Limbs

For fasting to accord with its "spirit," all limbs must be included in this process. The limbs highlighted in the text are as follows:

| Limb | Method of Fasting | Purpose and Wisdom | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Eye | Avoiding the unlawful and every image that distracts the heart from Allah. | Cleansing the mind of unnecessary images; tasting the sweetness of faith in the heart. | | Tongue | Staying away from lying, backbiting, tale-bearing, foul speech, and disputation. | Occupying the tongue with Allah's remembrance and Qur'an recitation to discipline the soul. | | Ear | Avoiding listening to what is forbidden to say, such as backbiting and lying. | Protecting spiritual nourishment, given that the soul is fed through the ear. | | Stomach | Even at iftar, eating lawful food without excess, in order to break passion. | Subduing the soul and making Satan's circulation through the veins difficult. |

Key concepts

Rank: Scope and Quality
The Fast of the Common People: The minimum level of fasting everyone must observe, covering the official limits and *ilmihāl* knowledge (abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse).
The Fast of the Elect: The fast of special righteous people. At this level not only the stomach but all limbs (eye, ear, tongue, etc.) are protected from sin and idle matters.
The Fast of the Most Elect: The fast of those still more special (prophets and the truthful). At this rank fasting becomes a secret between Allah and the servant; it has no fixed standard; each person's relation with Allah is unique.