Fasting is the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food and in some cases drink, for a period of time. Depending on the tradition, fasting practices may forbid sexual intercourse, (or any sexual desire), masturbation, as well as refraining from eating certain types or groups of food (e.g. meat).

Fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom since pre-history. It is mentioned in the Qur'an, in the Mahabharata, in the Upanishads, and in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament.

Religious Fasting

The Bahá’í faith

In the Bahá'í Faith, fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset during the Bahá’í month of `Ala' (between March 2nd through March 20th). Bahá'u'lláh established the guidelines in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. It is the complete abstaining from both food and drink (including abstaining from smoking). Observing the fast is an individual obligation, and is binding on all Bahá’ís who have reached the age of maturity (15 years).

Along with obligatory prayer, it is one of the greatest obligations of a Bahá'í. The Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi explains "It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires."

Buddhism

Buddhist monks and nuns following the Vinaya rules commonly fast each day after the noon meal, though many orders today do not enforce this fast.

Christianity

Fasting is a practice in several Christian denominations or other churches. Other Christian denominations do not practice it because they see it as a merely external observance.

Biblical accounts of fasting

• Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while he was on the mountain with God.
• King David fasted in petition for one of his sons who was sick.
• King Jehosaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah for victory over tribes who were attacking them.
• The prophet Isaiah chastised the Israelites in Isaiah 58 for the unrighteous methods and motives of their fasting. He clarified some of the best reasons for fasting and listed both physical and spiritual benefits that would result.
• The prophet Joel called for a fast to avert the judgement of God.
• The people of Nineveh in response to Jonah's prophecy, fasted to avert the judgement of God.
• The Pharisees in Jesus' time fasted regularly. Jesus rebuked them, however, for doing so to gain favor from men. He preached to them that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting.
• Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights while in the wilderness, prior to the three temptations.
• The prophetess Anna fasted regularly.
• There are indications in the New Testament that members of the early Christian Church fasted regularly.

Denominations and groups

Charismatic

For Charismatic Christians fasting is undertaken at the leading of God. Fasting is done in order to seek a closer intimacy with God, as well as an act of petition. Some take up a regular fast of one or two days a week as a spiritual observance. Holiness movements, such as John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield started in the early days of Methodism, often practice such regular fasts as part of their regimen.

Eastern Orthodox Church

For Orthodox Christians, there are five fasting seasons, which include Nativity, Meatfast, Great Lent & Holy Week, Apostles' Fast and Dormition. Fasting during these times refers to abstention from animal products, olive oil (or all oils, according to some Orthodox traditions), wine and spirits -- see Eastern Orthodoxy (Fasting). Fasting can take up a significant portion of the calendar year. The idea is not to suffer, but to use the experience to come closer to God, to realize one's excesses and for alms giving. Fasting without prayer and almsgiving (donating the money saved to a local charity, or directly to the poor, depending on circumstances) is considered useless or even spiritually harmful by many Orthodox Christians.

Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saints are encouraged to fast for twenty-four hours once a month (leaving out two meals), and the first Sunday of the month is usually designated a Fast Sunday; many Latter-day Saints who observe the monthly fast begin the Saturday before this day by not partaking of the Saturday evening meal. The money saved by not having to purchase and prepare meals is to be donated to the church as a fast offering, which is to be used to help people in need. Sunday worship meetings on Fast Sunday include opportunities for church members to publicly express thanks and to bear their testimony of faith.

Because fasting involves exercising control of the physical body, subjugating it to the mind, many Latter-day Saints consider fasting a way to focus on the spiritual body, and use it in connection with prayer to make it more meaningful.

Protestant churches

In Protestantism, the continental Reformers criticized fasting as a purely external observance that can never gain a person salvation. The Swiss Reformation of the "Third Reformer" Huldrych Zwingli began with an ostentatious public sausage-eating during Lent.

On the other hand, churches of the Anglican Communion and some American Protestant

Other Protestants consider fasting, usually accompanied by prayer, to be an important part of their personal spiritual experience, apart from any liturgical tradition. It is something that is done in secret and as a time to appreciate God. The point is not to gain salvation or obtain favor from God but to take time and love the Almighty.

Roman Catholicism

For Roman Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal (which may contain meat) and two small meals (known liturgically as collations, taken in the morning and the evening). Eating solid food between meals is not permitted. Fasting is required of the faithful on specified days. Complete abstinence is the avoidance of meat for the entire day. Partial abstinence prescribes that meat be taken only once during the course of the day.

Traditional days of fasting and abstinence

Fast

• Every day of Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Good Friday
• Holy Saturday until noon
• The twelve Ember Days
• The vigil of Pentecost
• October 31, the vigil of All Saints. If this be a Sunday, the fast is transferred to Saturday, October 30.
• December 24, the vigil of Christmas, unless this be a Sunday - no longer practiced in the Western World.
• December 7, the vigil of the Immaculate Conception. If this be a Sunday, the fast is transferred to Saturday, December 6.

Complete abstinence

• Every Friday, unless it be a holy day of obligation
• Ash Wednesday
• Holy Saturday until noon
• December 24 (vigil of Christmas)
• December 7 (vigil of Immaculate Conception; transferred to December 6 if the 7th should be a Sunday

Partial abstinence

• Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays
• The vigil of Pentecost
• The vigil of All Saints October 31; transferred to October 30 if the 31st should be a Sunday

Modern days of fast and abstinence

• Ash Wednesday (fast & abstinence)
• Every Friday of Lent (abstinence)
• Good Friday (fast & abstinence)
• Holy Saturday (fast & abstinence until noon)
• December 24 (Christmas Eve) (abstinence)

The current regulations concerning Lenten fasting and abstinence for Catholics in the United States generally are as follows:

• Abstinence is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.
• Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59.

For Catholics whose health or ability to work would be negatively affected by fasting and/or abstinence, the regulations above don't apply.

At one time Ash Wednesday and all the subsequent Fridays and Saturdays of Lent were days of "Fasting and Abstinence" whereas all the other weekdays of Lent were days of "Fasting without Abstinence". An exception to this rule was granted to the Bishops of Ireland (see Irish calendar) by the Vatican in 1918, when the obligation of fasting and abstaining on the Lenten Saturdays was transferred to the Wednesdays of Lent instead.

Many local bishops waive the fast on March 17, St. Patrick's Day. If it should be a Friday, however, abstinence still applies. The Friday abstinence is waived in the United States on the day after Thanksgiving.

In addition to the fasts mentioned above, Catholics must also observe the Eucharistic Fast, which involves taking nothing but water and medicines into the body for one hour before receiving the Eucharist during the Mass. Before Vatican II, the practice was to fast from midnight until Mass that day.

Hinduism

Fasting is a very integral part of the Hindu religion. Individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on personal beliefs and local customs. Some are listed below-

• Some Hindus fast on certain days of the month such as Ekadasi (the eleventh day of each lunar fortnight) or Purnima (full moon).
• Certain days of the week are also set aside for fasting depending on personal belief and favorite deity.
• Fasting during religious festivals is also very common. Common examples are Shivaratri or the 9 days of Navratri (which occurs twice a year in the months of April and Oct/Nov during Dussera just before Diwali, as per the Hindu Calendar). Karwa Chauth is perhaps a form of fasting unique to the northern part of India where married women undertake a fast for the well-being, prosperity, and longevity of their husbands. The Fast is broken after the wife views the moon through a sieve after sunset.

Methods of fasting also vary widely and cover a broad spectrum. If followed strictly, the person fasting does not partake any food or water from the previous day's sunset until 48 minutes after the following day's sunrise. Fasting can also mean limiting oneself to one meal during the day and/or abstaining from eating certain food types and/or eating only certain food-types.

Islam

Main article: Sawm

In Islam, fasting starts from fajr (dawn), until maghrib (sunset) is observed during the month of Ramadan. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars of Islam, and thus one of the most important acts of Islamic worship. By fasting, whether during Ramadan or other times a Muslim draws closer to his Lord by abandoning the things he/she enjoys, such as food and drink. This makes the sincerity of his/her faith and his/her devotion to Allah (God) all the more evident. The believer knows that Allah will love him/her when he/she is ready to abandon worldly comforts for Allah's sake.

Allah informs Muslims in the Qur'an that fasting was prescribed for those before them (i.e., the Jews and Christians) and that by fasting Muslim gains 'taqwa', which can be described as the care taken by a person to do everything Allah has commanded and to keep away from everything that He has forbidden. Fasting helps prevent many sins and is a shield with which the Muslim protects him/herself from jahannam (hell).

Muslims believe that fasting

Fasting also inculcates a sense of brotherhood and solidarity, as a Muslim feels and experiences what his needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel. However, even the poor, needy, and hungry participate in the fast. Moreover, Ramadan is a month of giving charity and sharing meals to break the fast together.

While fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered fard (obligatory), Islam also proscribed certain days for non-obligatory fasting, such as on each Monday and Thursday of a week, or six days in the month of Shawal of the Islamic calendar (the month following Ramadan).

Jainism

There are 24 Tirthankers in JainsJains fast for a variety of time periods. In Jainism fasting is seen as a must for purification of the soul. Jains may take boiled natural water while fasting or take no water at all (nirjala upvas). Many Jains abstain from food and water after sunset until next sunrise which is considered to be a kind of fasting.while doing fasting and other days Jains obeiasance to Navkar Mahamantra:-Namo Arihantanam,Namo Siddhanam, Namo Ayariyanam, Namo Uvajjhayanam, NamoLoe Savva Sahunam, Eso panch Namukkaro Savva Pava Panasano Mangalanam Cha Savvesim Padhamam Havai MangalamPARYUSHAN PARVA:-The real purpose of the Paryushan is to purify our soul by staying closer to our own soul, to look at our faults, to ask for forgiveness for the mistakes we have committed, and take vows to minimise our faults. We try to forget about the needs of our body and our business so that we can concentrate on our-selfSwetambers velebrate eight days of Paryushan and the last day is called Samvastsari In these eight days most of Jains keep fast in many ways and all Jains keeps fast on Last day of ParyushanThe process of shedding our KARMAS really begins by asking for forgiveness with true feelings and to take some vows not to repeat mistakes.The quality of the forgiveness requires humility and supperssionof anger

Judaism

Observant Jews fast on 7 days during the Jewish calendar. Five of these are considered minor fast days, and on these days fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is never permitted on Shabbat. If a public fast falls on the Sabbath, it is either delayed until Sunday, or observed on the Thursday before. The one exception is Yom Kippur, which, based on a verse in the Torah, is observed even if it falls on Shabbat.

On the two major fast days, Jews fast from sunset to sunset the next day. The first major fast day of the Jewish calendar is Yom Kippur. It is also known as the Day of Repentance, and is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The second major fast day is Tisha B'Av, a 25-hour fast that mourns the destruction of the first and second Jewish Temple, and other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people.

The minor fast days are:

• The Fast of Gedaliah
• The Fast of the 10th of Tevet
• The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz,
• The Fast of Esther, which takes place immediately before Purim
• The Fast of the firstborn, which takes place before Passover, and only applies to first-born sons (or their father, if underage).

Fasting in Jewish practice means complete abstinence from all food and drink, including water. On the two major holidays it is also forbidden to engage in any sexual relations, wash or bathe, and even wear leather shoes. Partial or total exemptions apply in many cases for those who are ill, those for whom fasting would pose a medical risk, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Fasting despite an exemption is prohibited, as endangering one's life is against a core principle of Judaism.

Aside from these official days of fasting, Jews may take upon themselves personal or communal fasts, often to seek repentance in the face of tragedy or some impending calamity. For example, a fast is observed if the scrolls of the Torah are dropped. The length of the fast varies, and some Jews will reduce the length of the fast through tzedakah, or charitable acts.

Philosophy

Judaism views three essential potential purposes of fasting, and a combination of some or all of these could apply to any given fast. One purpose in fasting is the achievement of atonement for sins and omissions in Divine service. Fasting is not considered the primary means of acquiring atonement; rather, sincere regret for and rectification of wrongdoing is key (see Isaiah, 58:1-13).

Nevertheless, fasting is conducive to atonement, for it tends to precipitate contrition in the one who fasts (see Joel, 2:12-18). This is why the Bible requires fasting (lit. self affliction) on Yom Kippur (see Leviticus, 23:27,29,32; Numbers, 29:7; Tractate Yoma, 8:1; ibid. (Babylonian Talmud), 81a). Because, according to the Hebrew Bible, hardship and calamitous circumstances can occur as a result of wrongdoing (see, for example, Leviticus, 26:14-41), fasting is often undertaken by the community or by individuals to achieve atonement and avert catastrophe (see, for example, Esther, 4:3,16; Jonah, 3:7). Most of the Talmud's Tractate Ta'anit ("Fast") is dedicated to the protocol involved in declaring and observing fast days.

The second purpose in fasting is commemorative mourning. Indeed, most communal fast days that are set permanently in the Jewish calendar fulfill this purpose. These fasts include: Tisha B'Av, Seventeenth of Tammuz, Tenth of Tevet (all of the three dedicated to mourning the loss of the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem), and Fast of Gedaliah. The purpose of a fast of mourning is the demonstration that those fasting are impacted by and distraught over earlier loss. This serves to heighten appreciation of that which was lost. This is in line with Isaiah (66:10), who indicates that mourning over a loss leads to increased happiness upon return of the loss:

Be glad with Jerusalem, and exult in her, all those who love her; rejoice with her in celebration, all those mourners over her.

The third purpose in fasting is commemorative gratitude. Since food and drink are corporeal needs, abstinence from them serves to provide a unique opportunity for focus on the spiritual. Indeed, the Midrash explains that fasting can potentially elevate one to the exalted level of the Mal'achay HaSharait (ministering angels) (Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer, 46). This dedication is considered appropriate gratitude to God for providing salvation. Additionally, by refraining from such basic physical indulgence, one can more greatly appreciate the dependence of humanity on God, leading to appreciation of God's benificience in sustaining His creations. Indeed, Jewish philosophy considers this appreciation one of the fundamental reasons for which God endowed mankind with such basic physical needs as food and drink. This is seen from the text of the blessing customarily recited after consuming snacks or drinks:

You are the Source of all blessing, O' Eternal One, our God, King of the universe, Creator of many souls, who gave needs for all that which You created, to give life through them to every living soul. Blessed is the Eternal Life-giver.

Medical fasting

People can also fast for medical reasons, and this has also been an accepted practice for many years.

One reason that people fast for medical reasons is for surgery or other procedures that require anesthetic. Because the presence of food in a person's system can cause complications when they are anesthetized, medical personnel strongly suggest that their patients fast for several hours before the procedure.

Another reason that people fast for medical reasons is for certain medical tests. People are often asked to fast so that a baseline can be established.

A longer fast for health reasons typically lasts a week or longer and includes some food intake, such as fruit or vegetable juices (see detox diet).

Recent studies on mice show that fasting every other day while eating double the normal amount of food on non-fasting days led to better insulin control, neuronal resistance to injury, and health indicators similar to mice on calorie restricted diets. This may mean that alternate-day fasting is an alternative to caloric restriction for life extension. However, this result may not apply to human physiology.

People who feel they are near the end of their life sometimes consciouslyrefuse food and/or water. The term in the medical literature isPatient refusal of nutrition and hydration. Contrary to popularimpressions, published studies indicate that"within the context of adequate palliative care, the refusal of food and fluids does not contribute to suffering among the terminally ill", and mightactually contribute to a comfortable passage from life: "At least for some persons, starvation does correlate with reported euphoria."

In homeopathic medicine, fasting is seen as a way of cleansing the body of toxins, dead or diseased tissues, and giving the gastro-intestinal system a rest. Such fasts are either water-only, or consist of fruit and vegetable juices. Some results have been achieved while including fasting in the treatment of some kinds of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and allergies.

Political fasting and hunger strikes

Main article: Hunger strike

Political fasts (today more commonly known as the hunger strikes) have been around since antiquity. Fasting was used as a method of protest and receiving justice in pre-Christian Ireland, as well as in India.

One of the most famous people to go on a political fast was Mohandas Gandhi. Some people see a difference between a hunger strike, a pure political act, and fasting, a political and religious act. By fasting, they intend to take some of the responsibility of the problem in question.

Hunger strikes have been used by personalities all over the world, including Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Sands and Lanza del Vasto (during the Algerian War, Vatican II and the struggle of the farmers of the Larzac plateau).

Today, hunger strikes are often used by refugees seeking political asylum.

A crossover between the religious fast and the political fast can be seen in 40 Hour Famine, an event run annually by the Christian relief organization World Vision Australia, in which participants fast for 40 hours to raise awareness of world hunger and funds for World Vision's relief efforts. Each year the 40 Hour Famine draws hundreds of thousands of participants throughout the Pacific Rim and beyond.

Physical effects of fasting

When food is not eaten, the body looks for other ways to find energy, such as drawing on glucose from the liver's stored glycogen and fatty acids from stored fat and eventually moving on to vital protein tissues. The body is fine relying on fatty acids but the brain and the nerves depend on glucose. Once the glucose is significantly used up, the body switches and begins to produce ketone bodies (acetoactate, hydroxy-butyrate, and acetone). Even though this transformation to an alternative form of energy has been made, some parts of the brain exclusively need glucose and protein is still needed to produce it. If body protein loss were to continue, death will ensue.

After approximately three days of fasting, feelings of hunger usually become infrequent or disappear altogether.

Fasting in Literature

• Franz Kafka's short story A Hunger Artist (Ein Hungerkünstler - 1922) describes a man who fasts as a form of art or theater.

Other

• The Bridegroom Fast - This fast was initiated by the leaders of the International House of Prayer, and is observed on the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each month. Based on Matthew 9:15, its focus is intimacy with Christ, who is described in the Bible as the bridegroom of the Church. The fast is accompanied by services in Kansas City, which are freely accessibly by webcast. It is observed largely in charismatic circles.

See also

• Asceticism
• Fruitarianism
• Juice fasting
• Simple living
• Taboo food and drink
• Vegetarianism and religion
• Water fasting
• Poustinia

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