Is fasting starvation? Most of the time, when people hear of fasting, they find it difficult to understand why some people would intentionally starve themselves. I almost always find myself explaining the essence of fasting in Islam and all that it entails. Growing up, I thought fasting was something limited to only Muslims. I mean, truly, Ramadan is the most known fasting period worldwide and its Muslims who engage in the fast during the holy month. It wasn’t until I found myself in a high school dominated by Catholic Christians that I came to know of Lent. It was quite mind-bursting to find out a different religion shared the belief of the importance of fasting just like Islam. While rooted in distinct theological traditions, these sacred periods share a common spirit – one that emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, empathy, and communal devotion. As millions of Muslims and Christians around the world embark on these sacred journeys, they participate in rituals that go beyond simple observance in an effort to develop empathy, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose. This essay will delve into convergence and divergence of Ramadan and Lent, exploring all the distinct activities they entail and their religious significance to determine the shared values that unite these two religiously treasured holidays.

For Muslims around the world, fasting is one of the most important activities in a lifetime. As a matter of fact, Fasting is the fourth of the five pillars of Ialam. Fasting in Islam is referred to as “Ramadan” which originates from the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, within which the activity is observed. “Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide to mankind also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong) so everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…” (Mohammed A. 2021, p.12 as qtd in the holy Qur’an). Although Ramadan is an activity expected of all Muslims, there are exceptions to the people eligible to partake in the fast. “…but if anyone is ill or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later.” (Mohammed A. 2021, p.11 as qtd in the holy Qur’an). The period lasts for about 29 to 30days depending on the year. The idea of Ramadan is not to starve, but to strengthen spiritual life and to show appreciation and give reverence to the almighty; “…glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” (Mohammed A. 2021, p.11 as qtd in the holy Qur’an). Fasting in Islam is not only a period of abstaining from food and water, “in the Qur’an and hadith, fasting is referred to as “ash-shiyam” or “ash-shum” which means to refrain from something” (Zuhdi and Sumanji, 2008 as qtd by Andi A. 2022, p.10). Accordingly, Muslims are also encouraged to refrain from speaking without benefit, gossiping, lying, and engaging in all other evil deeds. Ramadan in Ghana is almost the same as Ramadan anywhere in the world. The activity begins with “suhoor” which is the food eaten at dawn, around 4am, before the call to prayer. After that meal, it is prohibited to eat or drink anything until “iftar” which is the meal taken to break the fast after the call to the sunset prayer known as “maghrib.”  We are also encouraged to perform “zakat” which is an obligation of well-to-do Muslims to give to the poor and needy in society. My favorite part of Ramadan aside suhoor an iftar which involve sharing meals with my family is “Tarawih.” This is a prayer performed after the last of the five compulsory prayers known as “Isha.” Tarawih can be performed alone but it is mostly performed in a congregation. During the last ten days of the fast, another form of tarawih called “laylat-ul-Qadr” is performed at midnight. Ramadan ends with a festival known as Eid, which also involves praying together as a congregation and celebrations as well. Personally, Ramadan is my favorite time of the year because of the sense of belonging it gives me. From sharing meals with family before fast and after fast to praying together as one people and offering to the poor and needy. It gives me the feeling of doing something right and being a part of a group that i belong to as I do it. I think Ramadan for me, is a period of much needed spiritual cleansing. All the activities that go on in Ramadan remind me that there are so many things that we can live without and that a world without evil is possible only if we’re willing to make the effort.

In Christianity, fasting is known as “lent” and it is observed 40 days (about 1 and a half months) prior to Easter. It is not obligatory to fast in Christianity. It is more of a recommendation. lent is observed to remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ and to prepare to celebrate his resurrection. There are three types of fasting in Christianity. The first is the “normal” which involves drinking only water, the “absolute” fast which involves abstaining from both food and water, and the “partial” fast, which involves restraint from only certain types of food. Also known as fasting by abstinence. This is the type of fast usually observed by the Catholics in lent. “Fasting essentially consists in eating but one full meal in twenty-four hours and that about midday. It also implies the obligation of abstaining from flesh meat during that same period” (the catholic encyclopedia as cited in Mohammed A. 2021, p.9) Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. According to some Catholics, the palm from the previous easter is burned and turned to ash. The ash is then used to mark the cross on their foreheads. This action is used to remind Catholics that they are dust and to dust they shall return, encouraging them to repent as well. Catholics between the ages of 18-59 are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday and good Friday, consuming only one meal per day, except Sundays and abstain from meat on all Fridays.  Drinking water is allowed though. Catholics are encouraged to increase their prayer and self-reflection, often including special Lenten prayers and devotions. They are also encouraged to resist the urge for worldly desires. “Desire from other things’ there’s the enemy. And the only weapon that will triumph is a deep hunger for God…Perhaps, then, the denial of stomach’s appetite for food might express, or even increase our soul’s appetite for God.” (Matthew, 4:19 as cited in Mohammed A. 2021, p. 10). lent encourages good deeds alms giving as a way of imitating Christ’s generosity. Confessions are encouraged during the period to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. To indicate that they’re in the state of mourning Christ’s death, priests wear purple or red during the period of lent. The final week of lent is known as the holy week. It includes significant events like Palm Sunday where most Christians parade their towns wearing white and waving palm fronds, and good Friday which is observed to remember the death and crucifixion of Christ. The last three days of lent are collectively known as the easter triduum which includes maundy Thursday, good Friday, and Holy Saturday, which commemorates the last supper, resilience and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It ends with congregational prayer and celebrations.

Without doubt, Lent and Ramadan, have lots of clear similarities. The two occasions are based on the principle of abstinence for spiritual growth. During both periods, believers focus on their faith and seek a deeper connection with the divine. The two observances are periods of intentional self-restraint and self-discipline where believers give up certain foods and negative practices like telling lies, badmouthing, and the likes, and encourage more positive activities like giving to the needy in society, reading their holy books and showing gratitude to their object of worship. “It is observed that fasting in these religions in envisioned to facilitate self-control, invoke mercy and sympathy for others, create the sense of bondage, establish and assert religious identities, and release the negative feelings like guilt consciousness.” (Mohammed A. 2021, p.1). Ramadan is observed to commemorate the period the time in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, while lent is observed in preparation of Easter which marks the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Both Lent and Ramadan encourage togetherness. This is exhibited in the Ash Wednesday of Catholics where they meet and receive the cross in ash on their foreheads and say the Lenten prayer together. Similarly, Muslims exhibit togetherness in Ramadan during congregational prayers, “Tarawih” and “Laylatul Qadr” and sharing meals during “suhoor” and “iftar.” In as much as the two periods are subject to similar practices, there are some notable factors that differentiate the two. The most obvious difference is the difference in religion. While Lent is observed predominantly by Catholics, Ramadan is observed by Muslims. The duration of lent is 40 days excluding Sundays while Ramadan lasts for about 29 to 30 days depending on the lunar calendar Muslims use. As stated in Andi A. (2020), “In Christianity, fasting can be dome in a relatively “adjusting” way, while in Islam it already has standard rigid-rules.” (p.12) This can clearly be seen in the way the two occasions are observed. In Islam, Ramadan is mandatory as it is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam while Lent is optional for Catholics. During Ramadan, participating Muslims completely abstain from all sorts of foods and drinks and physical desires. Although Catholics do same in Lent, the abstinence from food and drinks is partial and they do not fast on Sundays. For Lent, believers eat one meal per day and abstain from meat on Fridays, drinking water is also allowed while fasting according to catholic practices. Ramadan ends with a three-day festival known as “Eid-ul-fitr” which involves celebrations. Lent ends with the easter triduum which also   includes celebrations and merry making.

In conclusion, these sacred periods, though originating from different faiths, both share a common truth: fasting is a quest for spiritual renewal which places emphasis on how physical acts of abstention are needed for spiritual growth. Through their own distinct practices and rituals, Muslims and Christians alike seek to develop a more profound spiritual sense of purpose and deepened connection with the divine. These practices inspire believers to look beyond their immediate physical and personal needs and focus on deeper, more spiritual aspects of their lives. Both seasons encourage believers to step away from the distractions of the world and turn inward, nurturing a holy relationship with their object of worship and creating a heightened sense of empathy for those in need. Whether it is Catholics abstaining from meat or Muslims fasting from dawn to dusk, the physical hunger becomes a metaphor-a bridge between the earthly and the divine. It can be agreed that fasting is a sacred activity where abstinence meets reflection and where the hunger of the soul seeks nourishment beyond the physical. So then, Is fasting really starvation?

References

Andi A. (2022). Exploring Fasting in Christianity and Islam. 6(1). https://doi.org/10.19109/jsa.v6i1.12958

Mohammed A. (2021). Meaning and Significance of Fasting in Comparative Perspective – A Study with Special Reference to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.57144/hi.v39i2.101