Islam_in_Focus_text

estrict our discussion to the institution of Fasting we may
say that many Muslims, unfortunately do not observe the
Fast, or, at best, adopt the attitude of indifference. On the
other hand, most of lhose who observe it do not realize its
true meaning and. as a result, derive very little benefit out of
it or, in fact, no benefit at all. That is why the Muslims of to-
day, on the whole, do not enjoy the real privileges of Fast-
ing.
Again, someone else may say that what is claimed about
the Islamic Fasting is also true of other types of fasting like
the Jewish Passover, the Christian Lent, the Ghandian Type,
etc. Why, then, do Muslims make these arbitrary claims
about their type of Fasting?
To such a person and to all others like him we direct our
appeal. It is against our religious principles and our morals
as Muslims to defame any prophet of God, or reject any
truth, or falsify any Divine religion. Other people do feel
free to commit these irresponsible offenses, but we Muslims
do not; because we know that once we plunge into this low
level of morality or rather immorality, we are virtually out of
the ranks of Islam. We do also know that the institution of
Fasting is as old as history itself, and that it was prescribed
by God for the people before Islam as it has been prescribed
by Him for Muslims. But we do not know- and we do not
believe that many people know- the exact form or the proper
manners in which God prescribed those other types of Fast-