Fasting, Beneficial in View of Non-Muslim Scholars

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  A great number of non-Muslim scholars and scientists have stressed the importance of fasting, regarding it as an essential factor in man’s physical health.  "O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." (The Quran, 2:183)  As a required ritual in Islam, fasting is considered highly important in view of both Muslim and non-Muslim scientists not only as a sign of man’s obedience to God, but also as a means of maintaining one’s physical health.  An eminent scientist from ancient Rome has highlighted the importance of fasting as the first treatment for overeating which he considers as the first disease.  Also, Professor Alexis Sophorin argues that fasting cures all kinds of diseases, as it is the best way of cleansing the body from within by sending the infectious and poisonous substances out of it.  The Russian scientist, writes in his book: “Treatment by means of fasting possesses special benefits and is useful for curing anemia, weakness of the intestines, acute and chronic inflammation, internal and external abscesses, tuberculosis, sclerosis, rheumatism, gout, dropsy, sciatica, (peeling of the skin), diseases of the eyes, sugar disorders, skin diseases, kidney and liver problems, and other diseases.”  Likewise, Dr. Jean Frumusan refers to fasting as a cleansing treatment for the whole body that unburdens the body organs for a while, creating a sense of comfort, lightness and delight.  In his book “Man, the Unknown Creature”, Dr. Alexis Carrel writes: “Fasting directs blood sugar to the liver, thus releasing the hypodermic fat as well as the proteins in the liver’s cells, glands and muscles to be consumed by the body.”  He also stresses the significance of fasting in all religious sects, noting that following a primary feeling of hunger, frailty or agitation, fasting will wash up all the body tissues, activating them to keep the internal balance of the body.  The French scientist, Gounelle Pye attributes the cause of almost 80% of diseases to the fermentation of food in intestines that can be treated through fasting.  Tomaniance refers to the one-month fast as a good opportunity to unburden the digestive system of all the waste substances piled in the stomach during the rest of the year.  Fasting is also the best treatment for the seemingly incurable diseases of the digestive system (indigestion), kidney and liver, he maintains.  Also, American scientist, Carrio recalls fasting as the best guarantor of man’s physical health in Islam, urging all patients to abstain from eating and drinking for a while every year to stop the growing of microbes in body./129