Islam_in_Focus_text

3. It imbues man with a genuine virtue of effective de-
votion, honest dedication and closeness to God; because
when he fasts he does so for God and for His Sake alone.
4. It cultivates in man a vigilant and sound conscience;
because the fasting person keeps his Fast in secret as well as
in public. In Fasting, especially, there is no mundane author-
ity to check man's behavior or compel him to observe the
Fasting. He keeps it to please God and satisfy his own con-
science by being faithful in secret and in public. There is no
better way to cultivate a sound conscience in man.
5. It indoctrinates man in patience and unselfishness;
because when he fasts he feels the pains of deprivation but
endures patiently. Truly this deprivation may be only tempo-
rary, yet there is no doubt that the experience makes him re-
alize the severe effects of such pains on others. who might
be deprived of essential commodities for days or weeks or
probably months together. The meaning of this experience in
a social and humanitarian sense is that such a person is much
quicker than anybody else in sympathizing with his fellow
men and responding to their needs. And that is an eloquent
expression of unselfishness and genuine sympathy.
6. It is an effective lesson in applied moderation and
willpower. The person who observes his Fasting properly is
certainly a man who can discipline his passionate desires
and place his self above physical temptations. Such is the