You should know that sometimes a person comprehends, due to God’s inspiring him with this knowledge, that his physical animalistic form is keeping him from what would constitute his fulfillment in terms of it’s obeying the angelic side. Therefore he comes to detest the animalistic side and seeks to shatter its force. He won’t find anything that helps him to do this as much as hunger, thirst, forswearing s*x, and practicing vigilance over his tongue, heart, and limbs. Persistence in this is a cure for the sickness of his soul. There follows him one who learned this from the truthful news-bearer [the Prophet] with the witness of his heart, then next the one whom the prophets guided out of solicitude for him, while he did not realize it, so that he gets the benefit of this in the next life through the shattering of the [animalistic] form.
Sometimes a person becomes aware that having the physical nature obey the intellect is his perfection, while his physical nature is rebellious, obeying sometimes and not obeying at other times. Thus he needs training, so he takes up some severe practice such as fasting and imposes it on his physical side and perseveres in fidelity to his pledge, more and more, until he obtains the desired object.
Sometimes he commits a sin, so that he perseveres in fasting for many days oppressing himself in response to the sin in order prevent himself from committing more like it.
Sometimes his lower soul craves women, but he is unable to marry and he fears committing fornication, so he defeats his lust through fasting and this is his saying, may the peace and blessing of God be upon him, “Fasting suppresses s*xual desire.”
Fasting is a great good deed which strengthens the angelic [side] and weakens the animalistic. There is nothing like it for polishing the face of the spirit and subjugating the physical nature. Therefore, God, may He be exalted, said, “Fasting is for My sake and I reward it.”
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, July 5th 2012 at 11:29PM
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