Why didn’t Allah prescribe fasting in the month of Ramadan for all humans? Why did Allah prescribe it for the believers only?
This is the main question I would like to discuss about in this brief essay. At the outset, let us look at the verse in the Holy Quran in which Allah has prescribed Fasting for the believers:
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you: As it was prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) self-control (Taqwa).” [Quran 2:183]
Who is a believer? Before answering the question of why Allah commanded only the believers for the month long fasting, it is a good idea to know who a believer is.
A believer has two main qualities. One is belief in heart and proclamation by the tongue. In it, the person believes in Allah and His Messenger, and all other things Allah wants him/her to believe without doubt, and openly declares about the belief and about the submission to Allah.
Another part is the action part. In it, a believer takes Allah’s guidance into the day-to-day life, and practices Allah’s codes through Quran and Sunnah to obey Allah all the time.
Fasting is one of those codes from Allah. In Quran, Allah described a beautiful quality of believers:
“And they say, ‘we hear, and we obey: (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the end of all journeys.” [Quran 2:285]
Why Allah prescribed fasting for the believers only?
The first reason is that Allah is All-Wise. Would it be wise to prescribe a university course on a student who refused to get admission to the University?
A believer voluntarily submitted himself or herself in the University of Allah. So, All Wise Allah prescribed the divine fasting course on them because they want it and are ready for it.
The second reason is that the prescriber Allah is extremely fair. Believers have surrendered themselves to His obedience, and they always supplicate for guidance, “Guide us to the straight path [Quran 1: 6],” and it is only fair from Allah to give them a guidance course, and one of them is fasting in the month of Ramadan.
Allah never deprives His obedient servants when they pray to Him. He is Fair.
The third reason is Allah’s kindness on the believers for their dedication to Him. Believers go through struggles, criticism, challenges from inner desires, and sometimes oppression and mistreatments because they believe in Success through Faith and Righteousness.
Most kind Allah prescribed Fasting in Ramadan for them to practice it for ultimate success in this life and in the next life. Allah is kind to all His humans, and gives them free guidance for success, but some do not take it while believers do. (Allah knows best).
The Month of Ramadan is here again with Allah’s blessings, mercy, forgiveness and unlimited rewards and benefits. Let us work hard to maximise the benefits from it.
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