17/02/2026
1. Rozah (Fasting in Ramadhan)
The Holy Qur’an made it compulsory for its believers to fast from dawn to dusk for one complete month in a year. As we have already mentioned that Shariah provided by the Holy Qur’an does not only regulate the relationship of man with the state but also aims at the moral, social and spiritual restructuring and upliftment of society. This code of the Holy Qur’an goes a long way in restructuring the mind of Muslim society. It cures the evils of baser-self, the lower soul which is otherwise full of evils. Allah Ta’ala created different things e.g., minerals, plants, animals and angels etc., each having their own characteristics. When Allah Ta’ala created man, He created in him sum total of all the characteristics of all other creations, that is why man is called microcosm as it is said that whatever is in universe, is in man. Therefore, man possesses the characteristics of all the creatures.On one hand he possesses the characteristics of beasts and on the other the characteristics of angels. You will agree with me that many people in the world behave as beasts and even more than that.
2. How to get rid of be***al characters
The Holy Qur’an is quite emphatic and instrumental in inculcating in man the praiseworthy morals called Ikhlaq-e-Hamidah and in weakening and keeping under check the blameworthy morals called Ikhlaq-e-Razeeah or be***al characteristics:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
“But he will prosper who purifies himself.” (87:14)
Only such a person succeeds who purifies himself from the impurities of Shirk (polytheism) and be***al characteristics like greed, cunningness, over-s*xual desires, malice, pride, overeating etc. Greed is a dominant characteristic of dog, cunningness and deceit that of a fox, over-s*xuality that of a pig, malice that of a horse, pride that of a lion and overeating that of an elephant. Therefore, we can easily say that a person who is very much greedy is having dog like character, similarly a person who is overpowered by desire of over-s*xuality behaves not like a man but like a pig. S*x is a human character as well but it is the overuse and misuse of s*x which is be***al character.
3. Anatomico-Physiological differences between man and animal
The animals are mainly controlled by limbic system and hypothalamus which are centers of emotions situated in the brain. These emotional centers in animals are almost independent as they have very low higher cortical control as compared to humans in which frontal lobe and higher cortex is highly developed. When an emotion evolves in an animal it gets swayed by this emotion as it has no higher control over the limbic system and hence cannot control its emotions. So, when a dog sees a bitch, it becomes emotional and fulfils his emotions irrespective of the place and the circumstances, whether it is a roadside and in broad day light or whatever. On the other hand, humans have a strong civilization centre placed in highly developed frontal lobe of the brain. The limbic system and hypothalamus in humans, is under the control of the frontal lobe and thus all emotions arising in humans are nicely controlled by higher centers. Therefore, we can say:
“To get swayed by emotions is an animal instinct”
“To control and channelize emotions is human instinct”
Now, have a look on the modern world. Nowadays people having animal instincts and who get swayed by emotions in the form of slogans of free-s*x are thought to be civilized and the people who behave like humans by controlling and channelizing their emotions are thought to be uncivilized and orthodox.
Now, just analyze Monica Lewinsky - Clinton episode. American President Bill Clinton gets swayed by animal instinct on seeing a pretty intern Monica Lewinsky in White House. The whole civilized world ridiculed American President for this animal act. Even the supporters of ‘free-s*x slogan’ joined the condemnation wave against the president. Why? Because inner conscience, voice from human civilization centre always hates animal instincts even if those people are trying to justify animal instinct by simple words but their hearts will be beating the other way round.
The Holy Qur’an says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) Self-restraint.” (2:183)
In these verses, the Holy Qur'an states in clear terms that the purpose of its commandment for observation of fasts is for attaining piousness, what it terms as Taqwa. One becomes pious when one behaves as human and not as animal. It is a well known fact even experienced by common people that overeating strengthens these animal instincts. For example, a person taking too much of meat and other aphrodisiac foods feels stronger s*xual than other people who take a balanced diet. Over eating not only makes one prone to many diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, gastro- intestinal problems but also makes one greedy, miser, self-centred and many a times corrupt.
Nowadays, you must be seeing long queues in gymnasiums and other such centers for making oneself slim and lose weight.
4. Physicians left Madinah
It is reported that during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) there were some non-Muslim physicians in Madinah. One day they all decided to leave Madinah for good as they were getting no patients. They were called by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and were asked as to why they were leaving from Madinah. They replied that they were not getting any patients in Madinah as people of Madinah seldom fell ill. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) told them that how come they would fall ill as they stopped eating even when they had desire to eat i.e., they eat less or they do not overeat. This was the secret of their good health.
5. Discussion between Hadhrat Umar (RA) and a non-Muslim doctor
Once a Jew or Christian doctor asked Hazrat Umar (RA), “You say that the Holy Qur’an contains everything but I don’t see anything in it about medicine.” Hazrat Umar (RA) at once replied, “Haven’t you read the following Qur’anic verse, which states:
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
“We send down (stage by stage) of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe.” (17:82)
This non-Muslim doctor got stunned on hearing this Qur’anic verse and admitted that there could not be better guideline than this for good health.
So, through its commandment of fasting, the Holy Qur’an has taken care of both physical as well as spiritual diseases.
✍️ Arif Billah Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori DB
📚 Aijazul Qur'an, 233-237.
