Most of us are fasting. But are we actually fasting?
The scholars spoke of three levels. The fast of the body — restraining from food and drink. The fast of the limbs — guarding the tongue from lies and backbiting, the eyes from what is forbidden. And the highest level, described by Imam Al-Ghazali, is the fast of the heart — emptying it of worldly preoccupation and turning it fully toward Allah.
Most of us stay at the first level. Ramadan is the invitation to rise.
The Prophet ﷺ warned us: “Perhaps a fasting person receives nothing from his fast except hunger and thirst.” — Ibn Majah
And he said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up food and drink.” — Sahih al-Bukhari
Ask yourself honestly — not did I eat or drink? But did I fast? Did my tongue fast? Did my heart fast?
May Allah accept our fasts and make this Ramadan a genuine transformation.
Jumuah Mubarak.