(4) Kuna hekima nyingi na faida nyingi katika kufunga, ambazo zinahusiana na taqwa aliyoitaja Allah katika aya (tafsiri ya maana): “… ili mpate kuwa al-muttaqoon (wacha Mungu).” [al-Baqarah 2:183] Maana yake ni kwamba mtu akijizuia na mambo halali kwa kutaka kupata radhi za Allah na kwa kuogopa adhabu Yake, itakuwa rahisi kwake kujizuia kufanya mambo ya haramu.

(4) There is much wisdom and many benefits in fasting, which have to do with the taqwa mentioned by Allaah in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “… that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183] The interpretation of this is that if a person refrains from halaal things hoping to earn the pleasure of Allaah and out of fear of His punishment, it will be easier for him to refrain from doing haraam things.

Ikiwa tumbo la mtu lina njaa, hilo litazuia viungo vyake vingine visihisi njaa wala matamanio; lakini tumbo lake likishiba, ulimi wake, jicho lake, mkono wake na sehemu zake za siri vitaanza kuhisi njaa. Kufunga husababisha kushindwa kwa Shaytaan; hudhibiti matamanio na kulinda viungo vya mtu.

If a person’s stomach is hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties from feeling hunger or desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, eye, hand and private parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the defeat of Shaytaan; it controls desires and protects one’s faculties.

Mtu aliyefunga anapohisi maumivu ya njaa, huelewa jinsi masikini wanavyohisi, hivyo huwahurumia na kuwapa kitu cha kuondoa njaa yao. Kusikia habari zao si sawa na kushiriki mateso yao, kama vile mpanda farasi haelewi uzito wa kutembea kwa miguu mpaka ashuke na kutembea.

When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he experiences how the poor feel, so he has compassion towards them and gives them something to ward off their hunger. Hearing about them is not the same as sharing their suffering, just as a rider does not understand the hardship of walking unless he gets down and walks.

Kufunga hufundisha nia ya mtu kujiepusha na matamanio na kuweka mbali na dhambi; husaidia mtu kushinda tabia yake ya asili na kujiondoa taratibu kwenye mazoea yake. Pia hufundisha mtu kuzoea kuwa na mpangilio na kuwahi kwa wakati, jambo ambalo litatatua tatizo ambalo watu wengi wanalo la kutokuwa na mpangilio, endapo tu wangelitambua hilo.

Fasting trains the will to avoid desires and keep away from sin; it helps a person to overcome his own nature and to wean himself away from his habits. It also trains a person to get used to being organized and punctual, which will solve the problem that many people have of being disorganized, if only they realized.

Kufunga pia ni dhihirisho ya umoja wa Waislamu, kwani ummah hufunga na kufungua saumu kwa wakati mmoja.

Fasting is also a demonstration of the unity of the Muslims, as the ummah fasts and breaks its fast at the same time.

Kufunga pia ni fursa kubwa kwa wale wanaowaita watu kwa Allaah. Katika mwezi huu watu wengi huja msikitini, wakiwemo wanaokuja kwa mara ya kwanza, au wale ambao hawajaenda msikitini kwa muda mrefu, na mioyo yao iko wazi. Kwa hiyo tunapaswa kutumia vyema fursa hii kwa kuhubiri kwa upole, kufundisha mafunzo yanayofaa na kusema maneno yenye manufaa, huku tukishirikiana katika wema na matendo mema. Mwingiza watu katika dini (dai’yah) asiwe na shughuli nyingi kwa wengine hadi akasahau nafsi yake mwenyewe, akawa kama utambi unaowaangazia wengine njia huku wenyewe ukiteketea.

Fasting also provides a great opportunity for those who are calling others to Allaah. In this month many people come to the mosque who are coming for the first time, or who have not been to the mosque for a long time, and their hearts are open, so we must make the most of this opportunity by preaching in a gentle manner, teaching appropriate lessons and speaking beneficial words, whilst co-operating in righteousness and good deeds. The dai’yah should not be so preoccupied with others that he forgets his own soul and becomes like a wick that lights the way for others while it is itself consumed.