… Continued
Dr. Chin, an English physician who lived in the 18th century, said, "I do not know what people do in other countries, but we Protestants do not regard excess in consuming food as harmful or detrimental, to the extent that people look down upon their friends who do not eat their fill at every meal.”
One of the latest remedies for obesity is to fix a balloon-type device in the intestine as big as one-third its size, in order to determine the quantity of food and drink and forcibly leave one-third empty (for air). The result of treating obesity in this way is amazing. Allah The Almighty certainly tells the truth when He says about His Prophet (what means): {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.} [Quran 53:3-4]
Thus, Allah The Almighty has ordained fasting thereby to purify man's soul, discipline his behavior, and be a means of prevention and treatment for whatever diseases and ailments may afflict his body because of his relentlessly eating food in great quantities. In confirmation of that, He The Almighty Says (what means): {But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.} [Quran 2:184] That is, if only you knew the superiority and benefits of fasting. These benefits seem evident in our time for those upon whom Allah has made fasting due and those who have concessions but can endure it.
These benefits include:
1- There is a relationship between fasting and the immune system: the functional index of lymphocytes improves ten times greater with fasting people. These are the blood cells that defend the body against the micro-organisms and foreign bodies that attack it. Furthermore, the ratio of the qualitative immune cells drastically increases in number. These are a particular kind of lymphocytes called T-cells. Some types of antibodies also increase, whose function is to destroy any organisms invading the body.
2- There is a relationship between fasting and prevention from obesity as well as a treatment of its dangers. Obesity may result from imbalance of metabolism, or from environmental, psychological and social pressures. The Islamic fasting is the preventive barrier to all of these causes, due to the mental and psychological stability brought about by fasting, which results from the spiritual atmosphere surrounding the fasting person; much worship, remembrance and mentioning of Allah, recitation of the Quran, remoteness from excitement and tension, adjustment of motives and desires, and useful constructive utilization of psychological and physical energies. Fasting also treats the diseases resulting from obesity like arteriosclerosis, high blood-pressure and several types of heart disease.
3- Physicians believed and still believe that fasting has a negative effect on patients suffering from genitourinary tract diseases, especially those who are more susceptible to kidney stones or renal failure, and are, therefore, advised by physicians to not fast and drink a large quantity of liquids, although some scientific research has proven otherwise, according to which, while fasting, the rate of sodium rises in the blood, which impedes the crystallization of calcium salts and the urea increases in the blood and contributes in preventing sedimentation of uric salts which form stones of the genitourinary tract.
Fasting also has no negative effect upon those suffering from renal failure who need repeated dialysis, given that it is one of the most dangerous diseases that afflict the urinary system. It is also proven that fasting does not put to risk most diabetics: on the contrary, it is beneficial for a lot of them. It also poses no risk to breastfeeding and pregnant women, especially during the first six months of pregnancy.
4- Fasting protects the body from the toxins accumulated in its cells and between its tissues which result from eating food - especially canned and manufactured food, intake of medicines, and breathing in air polluted with such toxins.
5- Man receives benefit from the thirst he experiences while fasting. It helps to provide the body with energy, enhance the capability of learning, and strengthen the memory.
6- Fasting enhances the fertility of both men and women, and to fast often alleviates and placates the sexual desire of youth. In this way, it prevents psychological and physical disturbances and behavioral deviance. This is a confirmation of the scientific miracle of the Prophetic Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah where he said: "O community of youth, whoever among you has the ability to marry, let him marry; and whoever cannot, then let him adhere to fasting as it diminishes his sexual desire." The male hormone testosterone falls notably with continuous fasting for many days, after which it rises remarkably. This may indicate that observing the Islamic fast often and reducing one's intake of food during it, like continuous fasting, could curb sexual desire and then enhance it after the breaking of the fast.
7- Weak and sick cells collapse when deconstruction prevails over construction during fasting; and the body cells are renewed in the process of construction.
8- Many people think that fasting has a negative effect on their health, and see their bodies as if they are lifeless machines that work only by means of fuel. They seem to agree on the idea that the failure to have three meals daily poses great risks and produces harmful outcomes. This causes them to spend the whole night of Ramadan trying to compensate this missing meal by consuming great quantities of food and drink, and they spend most of the day fast asleep. Thereupon work stops, productivity decreases, and the rate of food and drink consumption increases!
To be continued …