‘O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.’ (Al Quran 2:184)

With the grace of God, Ramadan started here (the UK) from yesterday. Thank God that He has granted us the experience of yet another Ramadan. In the above verse God draws attention of true believers to the significance and obligation of fasting and has reminded them that communities of earlier Prophets were also prescribed fasting because fasting is essential for progress of faith as well as for spiritual progress. Although fasting in other religions has changed with time, yet the concept remains in some shape or form. We find fasting prescribed at the time of Hazrat Moses and Hazrat Daud (peace be on them both). Hindus also have fasting as part of their faith although their abstinence is only from cooked food. Christians also have the concept of fasting, some Christian denominations only abstain from eating meat when fasting and can eat vegetables.

Recently Hazrat Khalifatul Masih had the experience to see someone fasting in this manner. A Christian friend, whose name or the country they come from Huzoor refrained from divulging, sat near Huzoor at a dinner. Food was being served in plates and Huzoor noticed that the friend had not been served. When Huzoor asked him the reason he said that he was fasting. Respecting this, Huzoor stayed silent and was amazed that in spite of his standing as a politician he was abiding by his faith. Soon after Huzoor saw that he had been served vegetables and rice and said to him that he could eat those while fasting and he said yes, he would eat. Next, chicken was served in dishes and Huzoor noticed meat in the plate of the friend. As Huzoor is familiar with the guest, Huzoor asked him if he was allowed to eat chicken during his fast. He laughed and said those serving food had insisted and his faith teaches him that if the host offers you something, you should eat it. Such is state of fasting of people of ancient religions. The chicken was delicious, when he saw everyone around him eating – there were perhaps two people serving – he may have declined to one of the servers and accepted from the second out of courtesy. Thus courtesy took precedence over religious commandment because the books giving the religious teachings are not clear.

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