In the Name of God, the Subtle, the Loving 

As the holy month of Ramadan quickly approaches, I must admit feeling not a small amount of dread: the days of Ramadan are going to be substantially longer for the years to come. Because of the lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan moves earlier each year by about 11 days. Thus, it is not too long before we will have long fasts in the heat of the summer.

Those are real fasts

And I fully admit that this dread I have is out of weakness: weakness to forgo food and drink for a portion of the day for the sake of the Precious Beloved. Yet, I do not hesitate to ask Him for everything I need in life, knowing that He will not fail to deliver.

That is why I need to stop and reflect about the essence of the fast: indeed, it is a spiritual - more than physical - exercise at increasing one's piety. Indeed, fasting is a way for those who are more fortunate to feel for those who are less fortunate, those who forgo food and drink, not by choice, but out of sheer poverty. Indeed, fasting teaches one patience and generosity.

Yes, fasting is about all of those things

But, as I thought about it more, the act of fasting comes down to one thing: love. It is all about love.

It is my belief that the fundamental basis of the relationship between God and humanity is one of love, not fear. There are many who claim otherwise, but it is simply not true. Even though there is no verse in the Qur'an that says, "God loves you," I can tell by reading the Qur'an that love is gushing out of its pages.

We must all realize that God loves us...period. Because He loves us, then it is only right, proper, and honorable that we love God back. But, loving God is not simply an act of the tongue. Love is manifested in action. One cannot tell his spouse, "I love you," but abuse her both mentally and physically. What sort of love is that? How can someone claim she loves her spouse, but cheat on him at the same time? Love is not in words...love is in action.

That is why fasting is all about love

If we love God because He loves us, then we should show God that love. And few things can embody that love for God than depriving ourselves of the things we love the most - food, drink, and sex - for sake of the Lord. Unlike all of the other acts of worship - prayer, alms, the pilgrimage - fasting is the only thing you cannot fake.

You can fake prayer: you can pray in front of other people so that they can say you pray. You can fake giving alms; you can fake going to Mecca. But you can't fake fasting. If you are not fasting, you will eat when no one else is looking. In fact, the true challenge of the fast is what to do when no one else is looking: when your hunger and thirst are at their peak, and no one will ever know if you cheated and took a sip of water, or a piece of candy, or a bite of food.

What do you do then? Do you cheat? Or, do you continue to fast when it is at its most difficult (assuming, of course, you are not sick, and it is not dangerous to your health. In that case, it is imperative not to fast).

That is how we can show our love for God: by fasting for His sake. That is why God says in a sacred hadith: "He has left his food, drink, and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it, and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times." (Bukhari) When we fast, especially in the coming hot months of summer, we don't just "talk the talk," but we "walk the walk."

And the reward for fasting is so immense: God Himself will give the reward for fasting. God Himself, Who has infinity at His disposal, will reward us Himself for fasting. The hadith literature is full of the rewards of fasting. The month of Ramadan is the month of mercy and forgiveness. It is one of the many, many embodiments of God's love for us. There is so much opportunity for us to get closer to Him and shed our almost innumerable sins against Him by simply forgoing food and drink during the day.

It is really a small investment with an enormous and infinite return. And all because...God loves us. What an awesome God we have.

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a physician and writer based in Chicago. You can visit his blog at www.drhassaballa.com.