Fasting in Judaism and Islam
Fasting holds significant spiritual and cultural importance in both Judaism and Islam, although the practices, purposes, and details of fasting differ between the two religions.
Fasting in Judaism:
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): The most solemn and holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur involves a 25-hour fast that begins at sundown and ends at nightfall the following day. It is a time of reflection, repentance, and seeking forgiveness from God.
Tisha B'Av: This day commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Fasting takes place from sundown to nightfall and includes mourning practices to remember historical tragedies.
Fast of Esther: Observed before the holiday of Purim, it commemorates Queen Esther's three days of fasting before approaching King Ahasuerus to save the Jewish people.
Fast of Gedaliah: Marks the assassination of Gedaliah, a governor of Judah after the destruction of the First Temple.
Minor Fasts: Several other minor fasts are observed in Judaism, including the Fast of the Firstborn, commemorating the survival of firstborn Jewish males in Egypt during the Exodus.
Fasting in Islam:
Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is marked by fasting from dawn until sunset. It is a time of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and increased devotion, including intensified prayer and Quranic recitation. Ramadan fasting also includes abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations during daylight hours.
Day of Arafah: This falls on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, during the Hajj pilgrimage. Muslims who are not on Hajj fast on this day, as it is believed to expiate sins of the past year and the upcoming year.
Ashura: The 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is observed with fasting by Sunni Muslims to commemorate various historical events. For Shia Muslims, this period has additional significance.
Voluntary Fasting: Outside of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and during the "White Days" (13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month).
The key distinctions between the two religions' fasting practices include the durations of the fasts, the reasons behind them (atonement, commemoration, spiritual growth, etc.), the specific days or months observed, and the regulations surrounding fasting, such as exemptions due to age, health, or specific circumstances. Despite these differences, fasting remains a shared expression of devotion, self-control, and connection to the divine in both Judaism and Islam.
