Ramadan is often perceived as a test of physical endurance, a month where believers abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. However, if fasting were merely about enduring hunger, it would be no different from a diet or a routine fast practiced for health benefits. The true essence of Ramadan lies in self-restraint, not just in terms of food but in controlling our ‘nafs’ the inner self that drives our desires, impulses, and emotions. Fasting is not simply about depriving the body of nourishment; it is about disciplining the soul, refining our character, and drawing closer to Allah (SWT). Without self-restraint, fasting loses its spiritual essence, becoming an act of starvation rather than transformation.
The Quran explicitly states the purpose of fasting:
“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)
Taqwa, or God-consciousness, is not achieved by mere hunger but by disciplining one’s actions, thoughts, and desires. A person may abstain from food yet continue to indulge in gossip, dishonesty, arrogance, or wastefulness—negating the very purpose of the fast. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) reinforced this by saying:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1903)
This hadith serves as a powerful reminder that the true challenge of Ramadan is not about enduring hunger but about purifying one’s speech, behavior, and intentions. If a person refrains from food yet engages in arguments, spreads negativity, or wastes time in fruitless activities, their fast becomes an empty ritual rather than a means of self-improvement.
The Modern-Day Struggles: Social Media and the Digital Distraction
One of the greatest tests of self-restraint in today’s world is the overwhelming influence of social media. While fasting should teach discipline, contemporary digital culture promotes the exact opposite instant gratification, impulsive behavior, and endless distractions. The Instagram algorithm, for example, is designed to keep users engaged, pulling them into a cycle of scrolling, comparing, and seeking validation. Ramadan, instead of being a time of spiritual reflection, is often reduced to a month of iftar photos, extravagant meals, and curated posts showcasing acts of worship.
Social media platforms, while offering opportunities for knowledge and connection, can also be sources of distraction and even sin. Engaging in unnecessary debates, spreading misinformation, or consuming content that weakens one’s faith contradicts the principles of Ramadan. A person may abstain from food yet spend hours mindlessly scrolling, consuming content that neither benefits their soul nor strengthens their relationship with Allah (SWT). The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned about wasting time on things that do not concern us, and Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to break free from the addiction to digital distractions and refocus on what truly matters.
The Paradox of Excess: Overindulgence in a Month of Moderation
Ramadan is meant to cultivate simplicity, gratitude, and empathy for those less fortunate. Yet, in many cultures, it has ironically become a season of excessextravagant iftars, lavish shopping sprees, and overindulgence in food the moment the fast is broken. Instead of reflecting on hunger and deprivation, many people engage in feasting, undoing the very self-discipline that fasting was meant to instill.
The Quran warns against wastefulness and excess:
“And do not waste [resources] extravagantly. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:26-27)
If we spend our days in hunger only to overeat at night, or if we replace one indulgence with another, have we truly understood the purpose of Ramadan? The month is meant to teach self-restraint, yet the culture of consumption has transformed it into a festival of indulgence. The struggle, therefore, is not just in avoiding food but in resisting the temptation to turn Ramadan into an occasion for extravagance rather than introspection.
Mastering the Nafs: The Ultimate Success of Ramadan
The greatest challenge of Ramadan is not simply refraining from food but conquering the nafs; our inner desires and inclinations. The nafs drives our anger, impatience, greed, and attachment to worldly pleasures. While hunger may discipline the body, true fasting disciplines the soul. If we continue to indulge in negativity, grudges, and arrogance while fasting, we have not truly fastedwe have merely stayed hungry.
Allah reminds us of the true victory in self-discipline:
“But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be his refuge.” (Surah An-Nazi’at 79:40-41)
Ramadan is a spiritual training ground. It is a time to break bad habits, develop patience, and cultivate sincerity. If fasting does not lead us to become more mindful of our words, more forgiving in our relationships, and more conscious of our actions, then we have missed the true essence of this sacred month.
Ramadan is not merely a test of physical endurance but a journey of self-discipline, reflection, and renewal. Fasting without self-restraint is like a body without a soulan act without meaning. If we continue indulging in distractions, harmful speech, and excess while abstaining only from food, we risk missing the deeper purpose of this sacred month.
Let this Ramadan be different. Let it be a time of true self-purification, where we control not only our hunger but also our desires, words, and habits. Let us replace idle scrolling with Quranic reflection, arguments with acts of kindness, and wastefulness with generosity. The real measure of Ramadan’s impact is not how hungry we felt, but how much we have grown.
As when the month passes, ask yourself: Have I merely stayed hungry, or have I truly transformed? The answer to this question defines whether our fasting was an obligation fulfilled or a soul awakened.
(Author is Advocate at Munsiff Court Sumbal and LL.M. scholar at Central University of Kashmir. Feedback: [email protected])
