A brief research about fasting according to the Hebrew Scriptures and the Quranic

ayats by Khidr Amari YIsrael

Allah says,
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-Muttaqun. Sura 2/183
O you who believe! Kill not the game while you are in a state of Ihram, and whosoever
of you kills it intentionally, the penalty is an offering, brought to the Ka'bah, of an
eatable animal (i.e. sheep, goat, cow) equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two
just men among you; or, for expiation, he should feed Masakin (poor persons), or its
equivalent in Saum (fasting), that he may taste the heaviness of his deed. Allah has
forgiven what is past, but whosoever commits it again, Allah will take retribution from
him. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution. Sura 5/95
Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the
women who are obedient the men and women who are truthful, the men and the
women who are, the men and the women who are, the men and the women who give
Sadaqat, the men and the women who observe Saum (fast) the men and the women
who guard their chastity and the men and the women who remember Allah much with
their hearts and tongues Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.
Sura 33/35
It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives
better than you - Muslims believers, obedient turning to Allah in repentance,
worshipping Allah sincerely, given to fasting or emigrants, previously married and
virgins. Sura 66/5
Shahr (the full moon) Ramadan (of scorching heat) is when the reading was descended
as a guidance for people and clarifications from the guidance and the criterion, so
whomever witnesses the full-moon, let him abstain it. And whomever was sick or
traveling so a count of other days. Allah wants to facilitate and not make it hard on you.
And so complete the count and magnify Allah for what He guided you and perhaps
you would be thankful. Sura 2/185
It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-
Saum (the fasts). They are Libas for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows
that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you and forgave you. So now have
sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring),
and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from
the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall.
And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I'tikaf in the
mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah
make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidence, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal
and illegal things, Allah's set limits, orders) to mankind that they may become Al-
Muttaqun. Sura 2/187
And perform properly, the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented (from
completing them), sacrifice a Hady such as you can afford, and do not shave your heads
until the Hady reaches the place of sacrifice. And whosoever of you is ill or has an
ailment in his scalp, he must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of either observing Saum (fasts)
(three days) or giving Sadaqah or offering sacrifice. Then if you are in safety and
whosoever performs the 'Umrah in the months of Hajj before (performing) the Hajj, he
must slaughter a Hady such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should
observe Saum (fasts) three days during the Hajj and seven days after his return, making
ten days in all. This is for him whose family is not present at Al-Masjid-Al-Haram. And
fear Allah much and know that Allah is Severe in punishment. Sura 2/196
It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake; and whosoever
kills a believer by mistake, he must set free a believing slave and a compensation be
given to the deceased's family unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people
at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed);
and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance,
compensation must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And
whoso finds this beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to
seek repentance from Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. Sura 4/92
Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish
you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten Masakin (poor persons), on a
scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or
manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days.
That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn . And protect your oaths (i.e.
do not swear much) . Thus Allah make clear to you His Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful. Sura 5/89
Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish
you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten Masakin (poor persons), on a
scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or
manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days.
That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn . And protect your oaths. Thus
Allah make clear to you His Ayat that you may be grateful. Sura 5/95
So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have
vowed awman (a fast) unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.
Sura 19/26
Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the
women who are obedient , the men and women who are truthful, the men and the
women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble the men and the
women who give Sadaqat, the men and the women who observe Saum (fast), the men
and the women who guard their chastity and the men and the women who remember
Allah much with their hearts and tongues Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and
a great reward. Sura 33/35
And he who finds not must fast two successive months before they both touch each
other. And he who is unable to do so, should feed sixty Miskins (poor). That is in order
that you may have perfect Faith in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits set by
Allah. And for disbelievers, there is a painful torment. Sura 58/4
It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives
better than you - Muslims, believers, obedient , turning to Allah in repentance,
worshipping Allah sincerely, given to fasting or emigrants, previously married and
virgins. Sura 66/5
Does the Qur'an literally give instructions how to do a complete
fast?
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-Muttaqun. Sura 2/183
Allah says if Prophet Muhammad and those who are followers of the Messenger who
received the Quran are instructed to ask those who been reading the Book before
Prophet Muhammad or those who are now reading the Quran.
Allah says,
"If you are fi (IN) shakkin( DOUBT) mimm (OF WHAT) anzaln (WE HAVE
REVEALED) to you, fasali (THEN ASK) alladhna (THOSE WHO) yaqrana (HAVE
BEEN READING) kitba (THE BOOK) min qablika (BEFORE YOU)." Sura 10/94
The Purpose of fasting according to the Hebrew Scriptures:
The Hebrew Scriptures emphasizes that the fast is not an end in itself but only a means
through which believers in the Most High can humble their heart and repent for their
sins; their repentance must manifest itself in their deeds.
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "Yahuwah, Yahuwah, the
compassionate and gracious Elohim, slow to anger, abounding in love and
faithfulness Exodus 34:6
"Yet even now," declares Yahuwah, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting,
weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to
Yahuwah your Elohim, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger,
abounding in loving kindness And relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not
turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink
offering For Yahuwah your Elohim? Joel 2:12-14

He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his
nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink
water. "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on
Elohim earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which
is in his hands. "Who knows, Elohim may turn and relent and withdraw His burning
anger so that we will not perish." Jonah 3:7-9
The idea is especially stressed in Isaiah 58:3
True Fasts and Sabbaths
The Hebrew root for fasting, wm (), can be used both as a verb and a noun, e.g.,
David fasted a fast:
David pleaded with Elohim for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in
sackcloth on the ground. 2 Samuel 12/16
Hence a meaning verified in the next verse: "he ate no food." A synonymous idiom
innah nefesh (lit. "afflict the body") includes fasting as part of a general regimen of
abstinence, a broader meaning confirmed by the following:
(a) laws annulling women's vows and oaths that contain the phrase "all self-denying
oaths to afflict her body
A fast of silence
But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all
her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her
when he hears about them. Numbers 30/14
When a young woman still living in her father's household makes a vow to the LORD
or obligates herself by a pledge. Numbers 30/3
and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by
which she obligated herself will stand. Numbers 30/7
"However, if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an obligation with
an oath, and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not forbid her, then
all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she bound herself shall stand.
"But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever
proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself
shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and Yahuwah will forgive her. "Every
vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her
husband may annul it. Numbers 30/10-13
The Quranic expressions is the same about Zechariah.
Allah says,
He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He Said, "Your sign is that all tukallima (you will
not speak) to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much
and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning." Sura 3/4

Now the Injil explains further:


While Zechariah was burning incense before Yahuwah, an angel appeared to him.
Whenever angels appear to people in the Hebrew Scriptures, people become very afraid
(Genesis 19:1, Luke 1:29).
The angel had some wonderful news to tell Zechariah! The angel from Elohim told
Zechariah that his prayers had been answered, and he would have a son. The angel
said:
He will be a joy and delight to you. His birth will make many people very glad. He
will be important in the Lords eyes. Luke 1/14-15
There were several He wills that Elohim gave:
He must never use wine or other such drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
from the time he is born. He will bring many of Israels people back to Yahuwah their
Elohim. And he will prepare the way for Yahuwah. He will have the same spirit and
power that Elijah had. He will teach parents how to love their children. He will also
teach people who dont obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will
prepare a people who are ready for Yahuwah. - Luke 1/15-17


And the Most High even gave this baby a name: JOHN in Luke 1/13.
The Quranic narration:
Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in Al-Mihrab (a praying
place or a private room), (saying): "Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya (John),
confirming (believing in) the word from Allah, noble, keeping away from sexual
relations with women, a Prophet, from among the righteous." Sura 3/39
John means, Yahuwah is gracious. Elohim is full of grace and longs to save those who
trust and believe in Him. We have all those years Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed
for a child, and now, Elohim was not only going to give them a child, but a son who
would be GREAT in the sight of Yahuwah. And even better than that, the long-awaited
Messiah was finally coming! And Zechariahs special son would be the one to announce
His arrival!
But even though Zechariah heard the angel, Zechariah did not believe what the angel
said in Luke 1:20.
And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,
you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. Luke 1:20
He doubted that Elohim could do such a wonderful thing because he and his wife,
Elizabeth, were very old. Because of Zechariahs unbelief, Elohim caused him to not be
able to speak.
Remember, all the people were praying outside of the temple. They were beginning to
wonder what was taking Zechariah so long in the temple. Finally, he came out. Imagine
their surprise when he came out and wasnt able to speak! He had to make hand
motions to show them that an angel of Yahuwah appeared to him in Luke 1:22.
When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a
vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to
speak. Luke 1:22
It must have been very strange for the people to see that Zechariah could not speak. The
Scriptures says that Zechariah went home.
The Most High ALWAYS keeps His promises: Elizabeth became pregnant! Zechariah
could not speak the entire time Elizabeth was pregnant. For nine months, Zechariah
could not talk!
Zechariah had prayed his entire adult life for two things. He prayed for a child, and he
prayed for the Most High to send the Messiah.
In one moment, the Most High announced that both of Zechariahs prayers were
answered. Yet, when Zechariah heard this, he doubted that the Most High could or
would do these things.
Sometimes when we pray for something for a long time, we forget that the Most High is
able to do anything, and that He wants what is good for His servants. When we pray
according to the Most Highs word, we can pray with an expectant heart. We must
remember that the Most High, the Most Great is all-powerful, and He ALWAYS keeps
His promises!
The Birth of Yahya (John)
Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. Her
neighbors and relatives heard that Yahuwah had shown great mercy to her, and they
rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted
to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother replied, No! He must be named
John. They said to her, But none of your relatives bears this name. So they made
signs to the babys father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. He asked for a
writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all amazed. Immediately
Zechariahs mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing Elohim.
All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea
all these things were talked about. All who heard these things kept them in their hearts,
saying, What then will this child be? For Yahuwahs hand was indeed with him.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Blessed be
Yahuwah Elohim of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he
spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, that we should be saved
from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. He has done this to show
mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant the oath that he swore to
our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants that we, being rescued from the hand of our
enemies, may serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him for as
long as we live. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you
will go before Yahuwah to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our Elohims tender mercy the dawn
will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child kept growing
and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was
revealed to Israel. Luke 1:57-80
Here we have the time finally came for their baby to be born. All of Elizabeths friends
and family rejoiced that Elizabeth and Zechariah finally had a son. All the people there
wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said his name should
be John. The people turned to see what Zechariah thought. He motioned for some paper
to write on.
By obeying Elohim and naming his son John, Zechariah proved that he finally believed
what the angel had told him. Now he believed that Elohim could do all that He
promised to do. After he obeyed, Elohim allowed him to speak. The Scriptures says,
Right away Zechariah could speak again. His first words gave praise to Elohim. Luke
1:64
Their friends and neighbors were all talking about this special boy. They could tell that
the Lord was with him and they wondered what would become of him. Talk of John
spread throughout the whole region
All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of
Judea all these things were talked about. All who heard these things kept them in their
hearts, saying, What then will this child be? For Yahuwahs hand was indeed with
him. Luke 1:65-66
After Zechariah praised Elohim, listen to what he said:
And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will
prepare the way for Yahuwah. You will tell his people how to find salvation through
forgiveness of their sins. Because of Elohims tender mercy, the morning light from
heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. Luke 1:76-79
The Most High had an amazing plan for John. He was chosen to lead people to the
Messiah. He was born to tell people the good news that their sins can be forgiven if they
will trust in Elohims permanent solution.
Also the Quranic narration of Maryam:
So eat and drink and be consoled. And if you meet any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed
awman (a fast) unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal. Sura
19/26
The above verses are referring to all forms of abstinence, not just
fasting;
(b) Daniel, who expressly "afflicts himself"
Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your
mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your Elohim, your words
were heard, and I have come in response to them. Daniel 10/12
The verse teaches that fasting was not done by Daniel not only by abstaining from
choice food, meat, and wine (in biblical terminology, he is not actually fasting) but also
from anointing himself.
In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any
tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until
the entire three weeks were completed. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,
while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris. Daniel 10/2-4
(c) the example of King David, who, in addition to fasting, sleeps on the ground,
does not change his clothes, and refrains from anointing and washing in 2 Sam.
12:1620, though the term innah nefesh is absent.
David pleaded with Elohim for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in
sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up
from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. On the
seventh day the child died. Davids attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was
dead, for they thought, While the child was still living, he wouldnt listen to us when
we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something
desperate. David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and
he realized the child was dead. Is the child dead? he asked. Yes, they replied, he is
dead. Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and
changed his clothes, he went into the house of Yahuwah and worshiped. Then he went
to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 2 Samuel 12/16-
20
Fasting is attested in the oldest strata of biblical literature and there can be no doubt
that spontaneous fasting was widespread from earliest times both among individuals
and groups. In the ritual practiced in the First Temple, fasting was clearly a permanent
feature (Isa. 1:13
Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons,
Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Isaiah 1/13
In the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a time of
fasting before Yahuwah was proclaimed for all the people in Jerusalem and those who
had come from the towns of Judah. Jeremiah 36/9
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the
land to the house of Yahuwah your Elohim, and cry out to Yahuwah. Joel 1:14
Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the
nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her
bridal chamber. Let the priests, Yahuwahs ministers, Weep between the porch and the
altar, And let them say, "Spare Your people, O Yahuwah, And do not make Your
inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the
peoples say, 'Where is their Elohim?'" Joel 2:1517
The death of a national leader (e.g., King Saul) could initiate a
day-long fast:
They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for
the army of Yahuwah and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the
sword. 2 Samuel 1/12
or, alternatively, the fast might be observed for seven days.
Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they
fasted seven days. I Samuel 31:13
The authority to proclaim a public fast was vested in the elders of the local community,
who, however, could be pressured by the royal palace to proclaim a fast (e.g., for
Naboth's undoing, I Kings 21:812.

The purposes of fasting are various. Its most widely attested
function, for the community as well as the individual, is to avert
or terminate a calamity by eliciting the Most High's compassion.
For example, the Most High mitigates Ahab's punishment because he fasted and
humbled himself in.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth vaiyatzovm (and
fasted). He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

Then the word of Yahuwah came
to Elijah the Tishbite:

Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me?
Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring
it on his house in the days of his son. I Kings 21:2729
King David fasted in the hope that:
"the Yahuwah will be gracious to me and the boy will live. But now that he is dead why
should I fast?" (II Sam. 12:2223).
Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child
was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." He
said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows,
Yahuwah may be gracious to me, that the child may live.' "But now he has died; why
should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
2 Samuel 12/21-23
Many other passages also indicate the use of fasting as a means
of winning divine forgiveness:
Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my
prayers returned unanswered. Psalm 35/13
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. Psalm 69/11
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of Elohim and went to the room of
Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water,
because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. Ezra 10:6


So these acts are implying that fasting is basically an act of
penance, a ritual expression of remorse, submission, and
supplication.
Fasting was practiced hence Moses fasted for as long as 40 days Exodus 34/28 twice,
according to Deuteronomy. 9/9, 18; Elijah, I Kings 19/8.
In the Scriptures given two occasions when Daniel's prayers were answered by means
of a vision in Daniel. 9/20; 10/7, his preparatory rituals included fasting (Dan. 9/3;
10/3). That death occasioned a fast is implied by the couriers' surprise when King
David refused to fast after the death of the infant son born to him by Bath-Sheba 2
Samuel 12/21.
When a calamity, human or natural, threatened or struck a
whole community, a public fast was proclaimed. Thus, Israel
observed fasts in its wars against Benjamin.
Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping
before Yahuwah. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings toYahuwah. Judges 20/26
The Children of Israel (Israelites) fasted in its wars against the Philistines:
When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before
Yahuwah. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against
Yahuwah." Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah. I Samuel 7/6
Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under
an oath, saying, "Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have
avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food. 1 Samuel 14/24
The Children of Israel fasted in its wars against the Transjordanian enemies:
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of Yahuwah, and he proclaimed a fast for all
Judah. 2 Chronicles 20/3
Similarly fasts were observed in the hope of averting annihilation by the Babylonians
Jeremiah 36/3, 9; and by the Persians Esther 4/3, 16.
The purpose of fasts during wartime was to seek the Most High's direct intervention I
Sam. 7:9
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the
LORD. He cried out to Yahuwah on Israel's behalf, and Yahuwah answered him. 1
Samuel 7/9
Fasting was also done seeking advice as transmitted through an
oracle (e.g.,).
Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping
before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings to the Lord.

And the Israelites inquired of Yahuwah. (In those days
the ark of the covenant of Elohim was there,

with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, Shall we go up again to fight against the
Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not? Yahuwah responded, Go, for tomorrow I
will give them into your hands. Judg. 20/2628
Fasting served as a means of supplicating to the Most High to end a famine caused by a
plague of locusts Joel 1/14; 2:12, 15, and to alleviate the oppression of foreign rule Neh.
9:1.
Fixed fast days are first mentioned by the post-Exilic prophet Zechariah who proclaims
the word of the Lord thus: "The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of
the seventh and the fast of the tenth"
This is what the Lord Almighty says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth
months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore
love truth and peace. Zechariah 8/19

by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, Should I
mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years? Zechariah 7/3
Ask all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the
fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years. Zechariah 7/5
As a preventive or intercessory measure, fasting was used to avert the threat of divine
punishment, exemplified by the fast declared for Naboth's alleged cursing of Elohim in
I Kings 21/9 and after Jonah's prophecy of Nineveh's doom 3/5.
The fast was accompanied by prayer during the First Temple period sacrifices were
offered and confession of sins in Judges 20:26; I Sam. 7:6; Ezra 10:1). From the Second
Temple period onward, the public fast was also accompanied by the reading of the
Torah (Neh. 9/3).
Prayers were generally held in the open 2 Chronicles 20/5; Judith 4/11 and all the
people humiliated themselves publicly by tearing their clothes, wearing sackcloth I
Kings 21/27; Joel 2/13; Psalm 35/13; Judith 4/10, 8/5, and putting ashes or earth on
their heads in Isaiah 58/5; Neh. 9:1.
The humiliation was applied even to the most holy objects; at times also the priests in
Joel 1:13; Judith 4:1415, the king Jonah 3:6 wore sackcloth and ashes.
There were those who covered even the altar with sackcloth Judith 4:12, and the ark,
containing the Torah scrolls, was taken into the street and covered with.
During the mass assembly in Joel 2:16; Judith 4:11, one of the
elders would rebuke the people and the affairs of the community
were investigated in order to determine who was the cause of the
evil.
In those letters she wrote: Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent
place among the people.

But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring
charges that he has cursed both Elohim and the king. Then take him out and stone him
to death.

So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboths city did as Jezebel directed in
the letters she had written to them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a
prominent place among the people.

Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him
and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, Naboth has cursed
both Elohim and the king. So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
I Kings 21/913
In many places young children and animals were obliged to fast a practice which
prevailed not only among other nations in
Then the people of Nineveh believed in Elohim; and they called a fast and put on
sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. Jonah 3/5
In the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a time of
fasting before Yahuwah was proclaimed for all the people in Jerusalem and those who
had come from the towns of Judah. Jeremiah 36/9
The sages, however, exempted young children (and animals), the sick, those obliged to
preserve their strength, and, in most cases, pregnant and nursing women. Ordinary fast
days lasted for the duration of the daylight hours; the important fasts were a full 24
hours. Fasts were held either for one day or sometimes for a series of three or seven
days; occasionally even daily for a continued period. In exceptional cases, fasts were
also held on the Sabbath and the festivals, but it was usually forbidden to fast on those
days; some authorities also forbade fasting on the eve of the Sabbath, of festivals, and of
the New Moon.
Historically, it was customary to hold public fast days on Mondays and Thursdays
individuals, however, especially after the destruction of the Temple, took upon
themselves to fast every Monday and Thursday.
The halakhah is that in such cases the individual, in contrast to the community, has to
commit himself to fast during the afternoon of the preceding day. It was also possible to
fast for a specific number of hours.
In biblical poetry wm and innah nefesh are parallel but not synonymous. Indeed, one
verse Isaisah 58/5 indicates that it is rather the root wm which has taken on the
broader sense of innah nefesh:
"that a man should bow his head like a bulrush and make his bed on sackcloth and
ashes, is this what you call a fast?"
Hence, innah nefesh, enjoined for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:29, 31; 23:27
32, consists not only of fasting but of other forms of self-denial such as abstention from
"washing, anointing, wearing shoes, and cohabitation" Lev. 16:29
"Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done
righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their Elohim. They ask Me for just
decisions, They delight in the nearness of Elohim. Why have we fasted and You do not
see? Why tzamnu (have we fasted / humbled) ourselves and You do not notice?'
Behold, on the day tzamnu (of your fast) you find your desire, And drive hard all your
workers. "Behold, tatzumu (you fast) for contention and strife and to strike with a
wicked fist. tatzumu (You do not fast) like you do today to make your voice heard on
high. Isaiah 58/2-4
Tsum /tzamnu -- a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), i.e. To fast, verb
abstain from food, fast
It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.
Leviticus 16:31
There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves
before our Elohim and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our
possessions. Ezra 8:21
So we have where the contrast is made between a fast which is not accompanied by any
real repentance, and which is therefore unacceptable to Elohim, and the true fast which
leads to Elohim's merciful forgiveness:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the fetters of wickedness, To undo the
bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free Is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest
the naked, that thou cover him Then shalt thou call, and Yahuwah will answer."
Fasts decreed or mentioned in the Scriptures. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) on
which it is commanded "Ye shall afflict your souls" so that the individual may be
cleansed from sins Leviticus 16:2931; 23:2732; Numbers 29:7; this is the only fast
ordained in the Pentateuch.
Some of times to fast
The Ninth of Av (Tishah be-Av), a day of mourning for the destruction of the First and
Second Temples (see Jer. 52:1213 where, however, the date is given as the Tenth), and
other calamitous occasions.
The 17
th
of Tammuz, in commemoration of the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem in
the First Temple period (Jer. 39:2 where the date is the 9
th
) and Titus breaching the walls
of Jerusalem, and of other calamities which befell the Jewish people (Ta'an. 4:6, Ta'an.
28b, also Sh. Ar., O, 549:2).
The Tenth of Tevet, in memory of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar , king of
Babylon in 2 Kings 25:12, Jer. 52: Ezek. 24:12.
The Third of Tishri, called om Gedalyah (the Fast of Gedaliah), in memory of the
slaying of Gedaliah and his associates in Jer. 41:12; 2 Kings 25:25.
The Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Ester) on the 13
th
of Adar, the day before Purim (Esth. 4:16).
Besides the Day of Atonement, which is a pentateuchal fast, the other four fast days
were also already observed in the period of the Second Temple. Zechariah prophesied
that they would be transformed into days of joy and gladness in Zech. 8:19.
On the Day of Atonement and on the Ninth of Av, fasting is observed by total
abstention from food and drink from sunset until nightfall of the following day; on the
other fast days, the fast lasts only from before dawn until nightfall of the same day. All
fasts may be broken if danger to health is involved. Pregnant and nursing women are,
under certain circumstances, exempt from observance.
The principal Hebrew term for fasting is the root . The verb occurs twenty-one times
in the Hebrew Scriptures, all in the qal stem, and the noun twenty-six times in
scattered references.
The root form also appears in Arabic and Ethiopic as a religious technical term. Both
the verb and noun forms refer exclusively to abstaining from food (and possibly drink),
whether personal or corporate in nature, with the primary general occasions being
mourning for the dead and worship.
Verbs of interest associated with the noun include , to call or to proclaim a fast 1
Kgs 21:9-12; Isa 58:5; Jer 36:9; Jon 3:5; Ezra 8:21; 2 Chr 20:3, , to sanctify a fast (Joel
1:14, 2:15), and the verb and noun together as , to keep a fast (or literally, to
fast a fast, 2 Sam 12:16).
The term belongs to the semantic field that also contains weep, mourn, wear sackcloth
and ashes, deny oneself, and to do no work. The most important other term for this
study in this semantic field is , to afflict ones soul as in Lev 16:29, 31, to
humble ones soul or to deny oneself.
Forms of this phrase are found in apposition to in Ps 35:13 and Isa 58:3 and Isa 58:5.
True Fasting Must Include Justice. The prophet Isaiah gives an extended example of
alternative fasting attitudes.
No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away
the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every
burdensome yoke. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide
shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Dont turn your back on your own flesh and blood! Isa 58:6-7
The chapter begins with the Most High urging the prophet to expose the sins of his
people in Isaiah 58:1 by raising his voice like a shofar.
Although the people appear to be acting in sincere desire ( ) for Yahuwahs favor in
Isaiah 58:2, they feel that they have not been answered in their fasting, that Elohim has
not noticed in Isaiah 58:3.
Yahuwah responds that this is because they are actually seeking after their own desire
and exploiting workers in Isaiah 58:3.
Such fasting does not merit the Most Highs attention. Yahuwah has not chosen fasting
to be a day for merely humbling oneself outwardly, as shown by the bending of the
head and lying in sackcloth and ashes.
Such displays seem to not even merit the title of fast, as the concluding question of
Isaiah 58:5 suggests:
Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the Lord? Instead, Elohim
has chosen a fast in which one will make restitution for injustice, to loosen the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break
every yoke in Isaiah 58:6.
Additionally, it is a day for sharing food with the hungry and clothing the naked in
Isaiah 58:7.
These social actions are actually considered to be a proper expression of the attitude of
fasting and not a rejection of fasting altogether.
When one makes oneself hungry by fasting, perhaps the plight of those who suffer
hunger involuntarily will be more personalized, prompting sharing Isaiah 58:7, 10.
By humbling or afflicting ones own soul, one will enter vicariously into the suffering of
those who are oppressed ( ), helping their needs to be satisfied in Isaiah 58:10.
This will demonstrate a true righteousness, and result in Elohim answering the peoples
cry.
The reference to water on scorched land in Isaiah 58:11 may suggest that these fasts
were linked to drought.
The ones who bow themselves low will ultimately ride on the heights of the earth in
Isaiah 58:13 and the one who has fasted and kept the sabbath for Yahuwahs delight
will be fed on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob, apparently a reference to the
covenanted blessings of Israel.
Fasting in Isaiah 58, then, is intended to be more than ritual. It is to be a true humbling
of the heart that results not only in humility, but in actual identification with those who
are lowlythe hungry and oppressed.
1 Enoch 108:7-9 describes the humble as longing more for the Most High than earthly
food.
Psalms of Solomon 3:8 suggests that involuntary sins may be atoned through fasting,
which may be an extension of the concept of fasting on the Day of Atonement:
[The righteous] maketh atonement for (sins of) ignorance by fasting and afflicting his
soul, and Yahuwah counteth guiltless every pious man and his house.
Fasting is almost always mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures along with special
prayers of petition.
Examples of such fasting are in the time of Esther in Esther 4:3 and 9:31, in the
experience of Daniel in Daniel 6:18 and 9:3, and in the advice of Yahshua in Matthew
17:21 and Mark 9:29.
The words of David especially connect fasting with prayer of petition:
"While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether
Elohim will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore
should I fast? can I bring him back again?" 2 Samuel 12:22-23.
Fasting appears in the Hebrew Scriptures along with weeping. Dressing in sackcloth,
sitting in ashes, and not wearing perfume are also mentioned in Nehemiah 9:1; 1Kings
21:27.
Proclaiming a fast is often associated with a solemn assembly as well in Joel 1:14; 2:15. It
appears that special months of fasting were instituted during the Babylonian captivity
of Judah, in view of the crisis in Zechariah 8:19.
"Thus saith Yahuwah of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and
the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and
gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace."

In this text we see that fasting appears in the Bible along with weeping. Dressing in
sackcloth, sitting in ashes, and not wearing perfume are also mentioned in Nehemiah
9:1; 1Kings 21:27.
This verse clearly suggests that these months of fasting would no longer be observed
when the reason for their existence, the Babylonian captivity, disappeared.
According to the Hebrew Scriptures fasting includes more than just not eating and
drinking, however again in Isaiah 58 is the great fasting.
"Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, ye
fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye
do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen?
a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to
spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day
to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to
undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to
thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not
thyself from thine own flesh?"
We have in Isaiah 58:3-7 fasting includes avoiding certain pleasures on one hand, and
doing acts of charity and justice on the other. That is, there are some other pleasures
besides food and drink that must be avoided.
Also, the central meaning of the fast has to do with feeling for the hunger of the hungry
and doing something to alleviate it. In addition, especially the practice of using
sackcloth and ashes seems to be condemned.
So when Allah says 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-Muttaqun. Sura 2/183
Those before you. That would be the Children of Israel and Ahlul Kitab.
According to the Hebrew Scriptures fasting is the complete abstention from eating and
drinking and some other pleasures during the daylight hours of the days of the ninth
month of the lunar calendar. It includes acts of charity, alms and justice, and the
especial avoidance of anger and quarreling.

Now why should the Children of Israel and Ahlul Kitab care about Ramadan of the
Arabs and the Gentiles who are Muslims.
The Tawrah warns the Children of Israel and Ahlul Kitab to avoid chukkat ha goyim
the statutes of the nations.
As a holy nation, separated by the unique discipline of the Tawrah we are sternly
warned to avoid gentile practices.
You shall not follow the customs of the nation which I am expelling before you. For
they have done all these above mentioned sins and I became disgusted with them. -
Vayikra /Leviticus 20:23

After the practice of the Land of Egypt in which you have lived, you shall not do, and
the practice of the Land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you, you shall not do and
you shall not follow their statutes [customs]. Vayikra /Leviticus 18: 3:
The Quran was not sent to the Children of Israel and Ahlul Kitab however, Ramadan
also supports Hebrew Israelites values. Perhaps most important is the intention of
Ramadan as laid out in the Quran the awareness of the Most High.
It is precisely the awareness of the Most High which the all of the Scriptures explains is
the absolute purpose of the entirety the Scriptures.
So just like fast means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction the other
aspect of fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet -- and all other
organs -- free from sin.

Ramadan is a time for developing emotional and impulse control. In accordance with
this, Muslims use this time to focus on all their behaviors as well as increasing charity to
the poor and caring for others.
Being a critic of the evils of our society is not nearly as effective as encouraging those as
they genuinely strive for the good. Could there be a better opportunity than Ramadan?

Ultimately, Ramadan is part of a process of repentance (taubah / teshuvah) of facing
oneself, altering ones behavior and facing the Most High to ask for forgiveness of sins
from the Most High in His infinite mercy. It is all about returning to the Creator after
our own self-imposed alienation knowing that he will accept us if we are sincere.