058-AL-BAQARAH (Ayat 183-184)
The practice of fasting, specifically the observance of Ramadan, is detailed alongside historical contexts. Prior to Islam, Arabs practiced fasting for horses to prepare them for warfare, while Jewish communities observed fasts commemorating past deliverance. The Quranic verses discussed establish a system of fasting promoting self-discipline and spiritual growth, transitioning from optional observances with provisions for those unable to fast to a mandatory practice with allowances for the ill or those traveling. This system aimed to gradually introduce a new way of life to a people unfamiliar with sustained abstinence. The verses emphasize that fasting, like preparing animals for battle, is a preparation for spiritual struggle and ultimately, for striving in the way of Allah.
