What is the point in fasting,while shortening your working hours and lenghtening hours of sleep?

Question

Allah asked us to fast,so that we too learn how life is difficult to poor people who are deprived of all facilities..But we,those in muslim countries,have very short working hours during this month..Also,we make all restaurants be shut down..So this helps us not to get tempted, get tired so much and like...

...Whereas poor people on the other hand work all day being hungry,also they remain hungry and sad looking at open restaurants and people coming and eating till nose....But we are not even knowing any of these feelings,by fasting the way i told above...so where is the whole point in fasting..?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as learning how the poor feel, we fast because it is one of the pillars of Islam. We fast for Allaah's sake to be rewarded in the here after.

I personally get less sleep during Ramadan because I have to wake up for suhour,,so I don't  know about those that get extra time to sleep,,,I say they are lucky even though we are supposed be doing extra ibadat.

Answer 2

Since fasting here this year will be 12 hours+ I don't think a slightly shortened work day is a big life saver:-s

I personally don't know anyone who drastically shortens their workday during Ramadan though I am sure some ppl do.  

Do you really know someone that during other months truly remains hungry and sad looking at open restaurants?  When you see them why don't you give them a bite to eat.  I know loads of really poor ppl here in Morocco but no one needs to go hungry here, ppl are really generous mashaAllah even when it isn't Ramadan.  

Answer 3

I think Mohamed new that some people will always have more material worth then others but still he wanted to put everyone in someone else's shoes to appreciate everyone in the community and show that we all need to care for one another. The Koran does not say to shut down therestaurantss that is just a modernimplementationn of the Koran.  Muslims in other countries are surrounded bytemptationn throughout Ramadan.  I am not Muslim but my husband is he practices and celebrates Ramadan and EID the poor guy is a cook!!!

PS ignore the ignorant comment that was posted before mine! Its called ignorance!!!!

Answer 4

None. You are correct. And, furthermore if you believed in Jesus then here is what he said about fasting:

Mat 6:16  "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Mat 6:17  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Mat 6:18  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

This teaching has great implication if you contrast it to Islamic teaching.

Another example of a contrast. We all know how Muslim prayer ritual is performed. Adnan, publically, etc. but here is the teaching of Jesus on prayer (Christian).

Mat 6:5  "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Mat 6:6  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And one other. A pillar of Islam is charity. a muslim is requred to give a percentage to charity so therefore everyone knows. But, this is the teaching of Christ:

Mat 6:1  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Mat 6:2  "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Mat 6:3  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Mat 6:4  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

So, you see...major differences in teaching. I don't believe that a fast which is so publicized, assisted, limited and public could be valid.

Answer 5

You should sleep little, and pray lots at night and wake up early, the whole point of fasting is not to sleep to much, i know someone, that stays awake all night, and sleeps till iftar.

Answer 6

Good Point.

But We cannot realise where the shoe pinches untill we wear that shoes.

Fasting for 30 days, we cannot actually realise and feel poor's hunger and their desire for food, but we can get an idea of their condition.

Even if you increase the working hours and do less of sleeping you will not get that feeeling because You know that "by the end of the day you will get plenty of delicious foood in Iftaar"

So increasing working hours and lessening sleeps would not really help us feel pain of the poor. But we can get an idea, that what fasting is all about, to make us realise that do not boast or brag about what he have, always thank God for what we have.

Fasting helps us to not to forget that time doesnt remain the same, do not forget that dark side exists :)

Answer 7

Muslims don't know what fasting means.  You only give up food when the sun is out.  Where's the sacrifice when you know you can eat soon?  You have no idea how it feels to go to bed hungry.  You probably wouldn't sleep much then.

Please no remarks about "lent" which is a Catholic event of giving up something you love.  Many Christians, myself included, fast when God calls us to or when we need to get closer to God.  We fast how Jesus did with no food, only some water.  Try it and maybe you will know God.