Fasting

Last year during Lent I was asked to give a talk in the parish of Tamworth about Christian fasting or what remains of it and the fasting of Muslims during the month of Ramadan. The request prompted me to have a closer look at fasting in both religious traditions and to see what they have in common and where they differ. In doing so I was struck by the differences in particular, differences not just in law but in the ideas behind the fasting as well.

For one thing the Christian tradition, following in this the Jewish prophets, has an anti-fasting strand. The prophets criticise a kind of fasting which abstains from food and drink but is not expressive of a change of heart. Fasting should lead to conversion and to the practice of justice. If it does not, it does more harm than good.

Related to this is fasting as penance or as prayer. One fasts as an admission of one’s wrongdoings; one is sad about one’s sins and prays for forgiveness. The abstinence of food and drink serves as an atonement showing God that one is serious about mending one’s ways. At the same time one hopes that God will withhold his punishment and renew his grace. The fasting of Jesus can be seen along these lines; the only difference is that he does not fast so much for himself as for the whole people of God.

If I understand them correctly, Muslims would be wary of this kind of fasting. It resembles too much an attempt to change the mind of God, forcing his hand as it were by refusing to eat and to drink. God is above even the semblance of manipulation and He alone decides about to whom to extend his mercy and forgiveness. What his believers have to do is just to submit themselves to his will and trust that He will reward his faithful servants.

The fasting of Ramadan is foremost an expression of this belief. It is done not on one’s own initiative but in answer to God’s decree as revealed in the Qur’an. Fasting is an act of obedience and surrender to God’s will. It is an attempt to be on the side of God, not an attempt to get God on our side.

There seem to be different images of God behind the different traditions of fasting. The Christian God is that of a Father whose children may approach Him freely and almost playfully. The Muslim God is that of a Sovereign who is merciful as well but on his own terms.

Ton