Religious Fasting

Fasting and Judaism There are two major fast days and four minor fast days that are part of the Jewish year. The two major fasts, Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av, last just over twenty four hours. They begin before sundown, when it is still light outside, and end after the next sundown, when it is dark outside and three stars can be seen in the sky. This fast is absolute. The faster may not eat food, drink, brush his teeth, comb his hair, or take a bath. Minor fasts differ in their duration from a major fast. No food or drink is taken from dawn until nightfall. Strict adherents to Judaism strictly observe each and every fasting day. Other Jews may practice modified forms of fasting. This can be abstaining from food but not water, fasting but not observing bathing restrictions, or not observing some of the fasting days at all. What is the Purpose of Fasting in Judaism? Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. As one of the most important days of the Jewish year fasting, along with prayer, is practiced as a means of repentance. This fits well with the idea of performing penance for any sins committed during the year and restoring one’s soul to a state of wholeness. Most of the remaining fasting days focus on commemorative mourning and remembrance of important historical events. On the Tenth of Tebet Jews fast in memory of the siege of Jerusalem (597 B.C.) by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. Six months into the siege the first breach was made in the walls of the city. This and other tragic events that occurred around this time are remembered in the fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz . The city did eventually fall to the Babylonians. The Jewish King Jehoiachin was made captive and carried off to Babylon with many of his people. Eleven years later Nebuchadnezzar's uncle, who had been made vassal-king of Judah in Jehoiachin's place, revolted against his nephew. Nebuchadnezzar returned and besieged the city for sixteen months (587-586 B.C.). The second defeat by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. was followed by the destruction of the Temple and the city. This event is commemorated by the fast of the Ninth of Av (Tisha B'Av). By coincidence the Second Temple, rebuilt after the return of the Jews from Babylon, was destroyed by the Romans on the same day in A.D. 70. Thus the Babylonian destruction of the First Temple and the Roman destruction of the Second Temple are mourned on the same fast day. The fast of the Third of Tishri, also called the fast of Gedaliah, is in memory of the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor of Judah after the destruction of the city and the Temple in 586 B.C. The other minor fast day is the fast of Esther. It commemorates the three days of fasting undertaken by Esther prior to meeting with King Ahasuerus. This is the one minor fast that is not a mournful remembrance. Lent Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. The Lenten season is a time when many Christians observe a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection. During the six weeks of self-examination and reflection, Christians who observe Lent typically make a commitment to fast, or to give up something—a habit, such as smoking, watching TV, or swearing, or a food or drink, such as sweets, chocolate or coffee. Some Christians also take on a Lenten discipline, such as reading the Bible and spending more time in prayer to draw nearer to God. Strict observers do not eat meat on Fridays, having fish instead. The goal is to strengthen the faith and spiritual disciplines of the observer and develop a closer relationship with God. Lent in Western Christianity In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Technically 46, as Sundays are not included in the count). The exact date changes every year because Easter and its surrounding holidays are movable feasts. The significance of the 40-day period of Lent is based on two episodes of spiritual testing in the Bible: the 40 years of wilderness wandering by the Israelites and the Temptation of Jesus after he spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness. Lent in Eastern Christianity In Eastern Orthodoxy, the spiritual preparations begin with Great Lent, a 40-day period of self-examination and fasting (including Sundays), which starts on Clean Monday and culminates on Lazarus Saturday. Clean Monday falls seven weeks before Easter Sunday. The term "Clean Monday" refers to a cleansing from sinful attitudes through the Lenten fast. Lazarus Saturday occurs eight days before Easter Sunday and signifies the end of Great Lent. Do All Christian Observe Lent? Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday (called Clean Monday) and Ash Wednesday is not observed. The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21. Likewise, the word "Easter" does not appear in the Bible and no early church celebrations of Christ's resurrection are mentioned in Scripture. Easter, like Christmas, is a tradition that developed later in church history. The account of Jesus' death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30. What Is Shrove Tuesday? Many churches that observe Lent, celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally, pancakes are eaten on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday) to use up rich foods like eggs and dairy in anticipation of the 40-day fasting season of Lent. Shrove Tuesday is also called Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance. Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass. Fasting and Abstinence It is a traditional doctrine of Christian spirituality that a constituent part of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God, includes some form of penance, without which the Christian is unlikely to remain on the narrow path and be saved (Jer. 18:11, 25:5; Ez. 18:30, 33:11-15; Joel 2:12; Mt. 3:2; Mt. 4:17; Acts 2:38). Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed (Lk. 5:35). The general law of penance, therefore, is part of the law of God for man. The Church for her part has specified certain forms of penance, both to ensure that the Catholic will do something, as required by divine law, while making it easy for Catholics to fulfill the obligation. Thus, the 1983 Code of Canon Law specifies the obligations of Latin Rite Catholics [Eastern Rite Catholics have their own penitential practices as specified by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches]. • Canon 1250: All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church. • Canon 1251: Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. • Canon 1252: All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance. • Canon 1253: It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety. The Church, therefore, has two forms of official penitential practices - three if the Eucharistic fast of one hour before Communion is included.   Ramadan: History, Purpose, and Practice in the Islamic Month of Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins on the last full moon of the month and lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the year. It typically falls between late May and late June on the Gregorian calendar used in the West. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month. Ramadan History Ramadan celebrates the date in A.D. 610 when, according to Islamic tradition, the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During the month, Muslims the world over are called upon to renew their spiritual commitment through daily fasting, prayer, and acts of charity. But Ramadan is much more than abstaining from food and drink. It is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-discipline and self-sacrifice. Fasting Fasting during the month of Ramadan, called the sawm, is considered one of the five pillars of Islam that shape a Muslim's life. The Arabic word for fasting means "to refrain," not only from food and drink but also from evil actions, thoughts, or words. The physical fast takes place on a daily basis from sunrise to sunset. Before dawn, those observing Ramadan will gather for a pre-fast meal called the suhoor; at dusk, the fast will be broken with a meal called the iftar. Both meals may be communal, but the iftar is an especially social affair when extended families gather to eat and mosques welcome the needy with food. Ramadan Worship and Prayer During Ramadan, prayer is an important element for much Muslim faithful. Muslims are encouraged to pray and attend a mosque for special services. Nightly prayers called tarawill are common, as is rereading the Quran over the course of the month often in the form of an epic prayer. At the end of Ramadan, before the final fast is broken, Muslims also recite a prayer called the takbeer, which gives praise to Allah and acknowledges his supremacy. Charity The practice of charity or zakat is another of Islam's five pillars. Muslims are encouraged to give regularly as part of their faith (zakat), or they may make a sadaqah, an additional charitable gift. During Ramadan, some Muslims choose to make particularly generous sadaqahs as a demonstration of their faithfulness. Eid Al-Fitr The end of Ramadan is marked by the Islamic holy day of Eid Al-Fitr, sometimes just called Eid. Eid begins on the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal, and the celebration may last as long as three days. According to custom, observant Muslims must rise before dawn and begin the day with a special prayer called the Salatul Fajr. After that, they must brush their teeth, shower, and put on their best clothes and perfume or cologne. It's traditional to greet passersby by saying "Eid Mubarak" ("Blessed Eid") or "Eid Sain" ("Happy Eid"). As with Ramadan, acts of charity are encouraged during Eid, as is the recitation of special prayers at a mosque. More About Ramadan Regional variations on how Ramadan is observed are common. In Indonesia, for example, Ramadan celebrations are frequently observed with music. The length of the fast also varies, depending on where you are on the planet. Most places have 11 to 16 hours of daylight during Ramadan. Unlike some other Islamic observances, Ramadan is held in equal reverence by Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Iftar: the Daily Break-Fast During Ramadan Definition The Iftar is the meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan, to break the day's fast. Literally, it means "breakfast."Iftar is served at sunset during each day of Ramadan, as Muslims break the daily fast. The other meal during Ramadan, which is taken in the morning (pre-dawn), is called suhoor. Pronunciation: If-tar Also Known As: fitoor The Meal Muslims traditionally first break the fast with dates and either water or a yogurt drink. After maghrib prayer, they then have a full-course meal, consisting of soup, salad, appetizers and main dishes. In some cultures, the full-course meal is delayed into later in the evening or even early morning. Traditional foods vary by country. Iftar is very much a social event, involving family and community members. It is common for people to host others for dinner, or gather as a community for a potluck. It is also common for people to invite and share food with those less fortunate. The spiritual reward for charitable giving is considered to be especially significant during Ramadan. Health Considerations For health reasons, Muslims are advised not to over-eat during iftar or at any other time, and are adviced to follow other health tips during Ramadan. Prior to Ramadan, a Muslim should always consult with a doctor about the safety of fasting in individual health circumstances. One must always take care to get the nutrients, hydration, and rest that you need.