LECTURE: FASTING IS FOR TAQWA
Assalamu Alaikum.
So, why DO we fast? The usual reply is “Oh, so we can feel like the poor.”
Erm, no. That’s just a small part of it.
The real reason has been mentioned by Allah in the Quran:
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).” [Al-Baqarah (2):183]
So Allah tells us that the reason that fasting has been prescribed is so that we can be Al-Muttaqoon i.e. those with taqwa (piety).
Here’s a nice lecture that explains what taqwa is, why we need it and how fasting helps us to to attain it:
Fasting is for Taqwa by Bilal Philips (Download: Part 1 and Part 2)
Part 1:
Part 2: