Voluntary or Obligatory

For Muslims, it is relatively simple: fasting during Ramadan is obligatory as it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are to abstain from food, water, and sexual intercourse from sunup to sundown during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. For Christians, it is a little more complicated. In early Christianity, there were significant debates regarding fasting. Some believed fasting was an obligation, while others argued it was a matter of personal conscience. There was also disagreement regarding when, how long, and what to abstain from in fasting. The teachings of Christ from Matthew’s Gospel often stood at the center of the debate, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Also, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (6:16).  Early Christians agreed that fasting was indeed a spiritual discipline and beneficial for the believers, but many hesitated to make it obligatory. They feared it might promote extreme asceticism or possibly be associated with Jewish, Gnostic, or Pagan fasting rituals. Early traditions suggest that Christians were encouraged to fast weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.¹ The only obligatory days of fasting were the two days preceding Easter.² Following the Council of Nicaea, the forty-day Lenten Fast preceding Easter was instituted. While complete abstinence from food is rare, many will fast from meat or other decadent foods during Lent. Early Christians also practiced sexual abstinence throughout the forty days of Lent. For example, an Augustine Lent sermon states, “As the Apostle says: ‘for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again lest Satan tempt you because you lack self-control. It is not arduous and difficult for faithful married persons to do for a few days what holy widows have undertaken from a certain period to the end of their lives and what holy virgins do throughout their entire lives.”³ This is largely disregarded by protestants but is still encouraged by the Eastern Orthodox who also maintain the weekly Wednesday and Friday fast.
¹Didache.
²Apostolic Traditions.
³Augustine Lent Sermon 209.

Fasting Like the Prophets

Muslims and Christians agree that previous Prophets like Moses, David, and Jesus fasted. However, the number of days and how these prophets fasted is disagreed upon. There is a tradition within Islam that David fasted half of the year or every other day.¹ In the Biblical account, David fasts for seven days when his child is sick (2 Sam. 12). Most Muslims agree that both Moses and Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. Muhammad was also known to fast during the night, but he did not encourage other Muslims to follow his example.² Similar to the early church fathers, Muhammad was concerned that those who practiced continual fasting might become excessive in their asceticism and disregard their daily responsibilities to their families and guests. Some Muslims have tried to show that Moses and Jesus fasted during the month of Ramadan. However, there is little evidence to support this theory. Regardless, Muslims believe that fasting is prescribed by God for Jews, Christians, and Muslims: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint” (Q. 2:183). Fasting in the Bible includes long and short periods of fasting. Some fasts include no food or water, like Paul’s three-day fast in Acts 9. Others, like Daniel, abstained from alcohol, meat, and rich foods for three weeks (Daniel 1). The various biblical examples of fasting is why Christians fast in multiple ways. Christians agree that fasting is a spiritual discipline and that Jesus assumed His followers would fast.
¹Bukhari Vol. 3, 1974.
²Bukhari Vol. 3, 1961.

Drawing Near to God and Subduing the Flesh

The primary purpose of fasting for both Muslims and Christians is to draw near to God and to subdue the desires of the flesh. In Islam, Taqwa, or God consciousness, is the primary aim of fasting. By becoming more conscious of God and his commands, Muslims hope to overcome the temptation to do evil by practicing self-control. Those who fast will enter into the gates of paradise on the Day of Judgement. Many Christians also fast as a means of overcoming temptation. This is often attributed to Christ’s fast in the wilderness where he overcame the temptations of the Devil (Matt. 4:1-11). Some Church Fathers suggested fasting as a means of cleansing and strengthening the soul.¹ By depriving the outer man, the inner man or spirit is strengthened. Christians might also devote themselves to fasting to discern God’s will or even for the Lord to provide healing or deliverance. Both Muslims and Christians emphasize fasting as a means to overcome lust. According to Muslim tradition, “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him.”² Chrysostom, too, describes fasting as a shield for the temptations of the Devil in his sermon on Christ in the wilderness.³
¹See Aquinas quoting Augustine in the Summa Theologica, Article I Objection 3.
²Muslim Vol. 4, 1400.
³Homily 13 on Matthew IV.

Abstaining and Doing

Both Muslims and Christians agree that while fasting normally includes abstaining from food, there are other actions to perform as well. For example, it is a common tradition in both religions to increase their prayers and charitable deeds during fasting times. For example, Augustine’s Lent sermon says, “Now, therefore, in the name of Christ, I exhort you, my dearly beloved brethren, to propitiate God by daily fasts, by more generous almsgiving, and by more fervent prayers so that you may not be overcome by Satan. . . . Be particularly mindful of the poor, so that what you take from yourself by living sparingly you may lay away in heavenly treasures. Let the needy Christ receive that of which the fasting Christian deprives himself.”¹ Muslims have a tradition saying, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”² This often spurs Muslims to increase their religious devotion.
¹Augustine Lent Sermon 209.
²Bukhari Vol. 3, 1899.

Time for Reconciliation

In the early Church, Lent was particularly important for Catechumens (those desiring to join the Church). Lent was a time of special preparation and teaching for these aspiring believers who would be baptized, receive the Eucharist on Easter, and become members of the Body of Christ. Lent was also when the penitent could be welcomed back into the Church if previously excommunicated for some grave sin. Both Muslim and Christian traditions encourage followers to abstain from discord and practice humility during the fast for it to be acceptable to God. Augustine focuses heavily on the issue of forgiving one another during the Lenten season saying, “He denounces the fasts of quarrelers; He seeks those of the devout. He denounces those who oppress and seeks those who release. He denounces those who stir up hostilities and seeks those who set free.”¹ Similarly, according to the Hadith, “If one of you starts his day fasting, let him not engage in any obscene or ignorant speech, and if someone insults him or argues with him, let him say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.”² Additionally, “Whoever does not give up lying speech and acting on those lies and evil actions etc., Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.”³ Both Muslims and Christians understood that fasting was an opportunity for reconciliation within their religious communities.
¹Augustine Lent Sermon 206.
²Muslim Vol 3, Ch 39 number 161.
³Bukhari Vol 3, 1903

Intentions are Important

Both Islam and Christianity teach that intention is an essential factor in legitimizing a fast. According to Muslim tradition, if you eat or drink because you genuinely forgot that you were fasting, you should not condemn yourself and instead consider it a gift from God and continue fasting.¹ Also, those who fast with pure intentions will have their sins forgiven according to the Islamic tradition. Christians believe the heart’s intention is as important as the discipline itself. There is no use in drawing near to God with religious rituals all the while ignoring the clear commands of God. “Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high” (Is. 58:4). The Bible consistently refers to the importance of the heart in regarding spiritual disciplines. Participating in religious rituals while at the same time ignoring the clear commands of God is hypocrisy. A true fast must also include a genuine desire to please God in thought word, and deed. Similarly, Islamic tradition that God will not accept the fast of someone who abstains from food and drink but continues doing evil.
¹ Bukhari Vol. 3, 1933

Additional and Special Days

Muslims and Christians highly regard the final days of their fasting season. In Islam, the night of Qadr (power or divine destiny) comes during the final ten days of Ramadan. No one knows the exact date but it is a special night as it is when Muhammad first received the message of the Qur’an from the angel Gabriel. Some devout Muslims will stay up during these last ten nights hoping to be seen sincerely praying or reciting the Qur’an by the Angel Gabriel and have their sins forgiven.¹ Good deeds performed during Qadr are also multiplied. According to the Qur’an, worshiping on this night is the equivalent of worshiping one thousand months (Q.97:3). For Christians, particularly Catholics and Liturgical Protestants, fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is especially important. Ash Wednesday initiates the beginning of the Lenten fast, and Good Friday is in remembrance of the Lord’s crucifixion. Early Christians would fast from Thursday until the Easter Eucharist. Traditionally, Thursday during Holy Week memorializes the Passover. Muslims are also encouraged to fast on Ashura, which commemorates the day God led the Israelites out of Egypt. While Jews, Muslims, and Christians all celebrate the Passover with fasting, the date of this commemoration does not align due to differing religious calendars. It is also recorded that Muhammad liked to fast weekly on Mondays and Thursdays because these are the days when your deeds are presented to God. Pious Jews also fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. According to the Didache, Christians discouraged fasting on Mondays and Thursdays and instead were encouraged to fast weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays. This tradition continues in the Orthodox Church.
¹ Bukhari Vol. 3, 1901

Exemptions from Fasting

Both Muslims and Christians have historically allowed some to be exempt from fasting. For example, in the Apostolic Traditions of Hippolytus, no one should eat or drink for the two days leading up to Easter. However, pregnant women and the sick were encouraged to fast for only one day and to take bread and water if needed. In Islam, menstruating women, the sick, and those traveling are exempted from fasting during Ramadan. In the Apostolic Traditions, travelers who did not fast the two days leading up to Easter are encouraged to make up these days after Pentecost. No one was permitted to eat on Easter until breaking the fast with the Eucharist celebration. For Muslims, those who are exempt from fasting should make up these fasting days before the next Ramadan. Muslims and Christians each have a tradition that those who are not able to fast due to some physical ailment are encouraged to give charitably to the poor as a supplement. Augustine explains, “Since it is less possible for him to help his prayers by mortification of his body, let him enclose in the heart of the poor man a more generous alms which can there pray for him.”¹ As for the Qur’an, “For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person (Q. 2:184).
¹ Augustine Lent Sermon 209.

Celebrations to End the Fast

The forty-day Lenten fast culminates with the Easter vigil. The earliest tradition suggests that Christians would gather the night before Easter to fast and pray until sunrise. After baptizing the new believers, the fast was broken by taking the Eucharist. The sacrificial season of Lent culminates with a celebration of the ultimate sacrifice of “the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). No fasting is permitted on Easter since it is a celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. Muslims are also prohibited from fasting on Eid al-Fitra, the day celebrating the end of Ramadan. Muslims will clean their homes and wear the best clothes to the Mosque to celebrate the end of the fast together. Many will give thanks to God for the wisdom and guidance they received during their fast. To purify their efforts during Ramadan, Muslims will give a special donation before the Eid prayers known as Zakat al-Fitra. This donation is most often in the form of food distributed to the poor.

For more on Ramadan see the following articles:
Sharing with Women During Ramadan by Vivienne Stacey
Why Ramadan Concerns Christians by Jerry Rankin
Ramadan Prayer Guide by Mark W.
The Night of Power During Ramadan by Ayman and Emily Ibrahim
Can You Trust Muslim Kindness this Ramadan by Martin Acaad