Fasting
Hadithshavestressedthatfastingprotectsagainstthehell-fireandits
chastisement.Itisactuallythemostinfluentialmeansofspiritualsports,
willpower, andcustoms of endurance. Itis the healthiest means of re-
formingthedigestivesystem.Dr.A.Ismailstatesthatthefastingisthe
onlyremedythatprotectsagainstmanydiseases,andthebestprescrip-
tion of the following defects:
-Thefastingisprescribed fortreating thechronicdisorders ofthe in-
testinesthatareassociatedbyfermentationofthealbuminousandamyl-
oidmaterials.Fasting-whichistheabstinencefromwaterandfoodfrom
dawn to sunset- is the mostsuccessful way of purifyingthe intestines
and treating the states of fermentation.
- Itisalsoprescribedfortreatingtheexcessivefatnessthatistheresult
ofovereatingandthepaucityofactivities.Inthiscase,fastingisthebest
curablemethodprovided thatitisaccompanied bymoderation during
havingthemealofbreakingthefasting,anddrinkingwater duringthe
post-midnight meal. - Itisalsoprescribedfortreatingthespontaneousbloodpressure.This
diseaseisincreasinglyspreadingduetoluxuryandpsychicagitations.In
suchcases,Ramadhanisthemonthofgraceandbless,especiallyforthe
excessively weighty. - It is prescribed fortreating diabetes.This diseasespreads with the
pressureofblood.Itisoftenassociatedbytheexcessiveweight.Hence,
fastingisthe beneficialtreatmentsincetheproportionofsaccharinede-
creaseswiththeretreatoftheweight.Fivehoursafterhavingameal,the
sugarinthebloodreacheslowerthanthenaturaltermincasesofslack
saccharineurination.Tenhourslater, itreacheslowerlevels.Beforethe
discovery of the insulin, fasting,with somenutritious notices, wasthe
best treatment of this disease, especially for the fat. - Itisprescribedfortreatingthetenseandchronicnephritisthatisas-
sociated by exudation and tumefaction. - It isprescribedfortreatingthehearttroublesthatareassociatedby
tumefaction. - Itisprescribedfortreatingthechronicarthritis,especiallyforthefat,
suchasthefortyyearoldladies.Ithasbeennoticedthatfastingwasthe
bestcure,forthisdisease,sinceithasexceededtheothermeansofelec-
tricity, injections, drugs, and modern medicine.