Fasting of the Olden Days

Translation (by Abdullah Yusuf Ali):
O you who believe! Fasting is presribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.
[Al-Baqarah, 2:183]

The verse above that made fasting compulsory upon us Muslims, also mentioned that fasting was also prescribed to those before us. Therefore it is natural for us to wonder as to how did the people before us fast. Did they also fast for a whole month like us or did have to restrain themselves from things other than food, drinks and sexual intercourse?

Translation:
One day We shall raise from all peoples (nations) a witness (prophet) against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall bring you (Muhammad) as a witness against these (your people): and We have sent down to you the Book (Quran) explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims.
[Al-Nahl, 16:89]


As we all know, in the olden days, every nation were sent a prophet, a messenger of Allah, to guide them to worship Allah. With that each nation were also prescribed a set of laws and commandments called shariah, which was taught by each prophet to their followers with the guidance of Allah. And within every set of shariah were also command for fasting (saum), as there were commands for prayer (solat) and and giving charity (zakat). However, the method of performing each of the commandments might differ from the method prescribed upon the followers of Muhammad peace be upon him.

Fasting on alternate days


Allah prescribed fasting to Prophet David peace be upon him and his followers. However, the timing of their fast commandment differs from the fast commanded on Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his followers.

We, the followers of the Muhammad peace be upon him, were prescribed to fast for one whole month during Ramadhan. The fast prescribed upon Prophet David was not for any one particular month but instead, they were prescribed to fast throughout the year.

However, they did not fast each and every day of the year but on every alternate day and it goes on until they day they die. So there goes the fast prescribed upon Prophet David peace be upon him and his followers. We know this because a prophetic narration (Hadith) relates the fast of Prophet David.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As:
Allah's Apostle said to me, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night." 'Abdullah replied, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said, "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have power." The Prophet said, "Fast like the fasting of the Prophet David and do not fast more than that." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, David?" He said, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day).
Afterwards when 'Abdullah became old, he used to say, "It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month)."
[Sahih Bukhari Book 3, Volume 31, Hadith 196]

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:
Allah's Apostle was informed that I had taken an oath to fast daily and to pray (every night) all the night throughout my life (so Allah's Apostle came to me and asked whether it was correct): I replied, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you! I said so." The Prophet said, "You can not do that. So, fast for few days and give it up for few days, pray and sleep. Fast three days a month as the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to one year of fasting." I replied, "I can do better than that." The Prophet said to me, "Fast one day and give up fasting for a day and that is the fasting of Prophet David and that is the best fasting." I said, "I have the power to fast better (more) than that." The Prophet said, "There is no better fasting than that."
[Sahih Bukhari Book 3, Volume 31, Hadith 197]

If we were prescribed to fast like it was prescribed upon Prophet David and his followers, it would have been very difficult for us. Therefore we should be very grateful that Allah has made it much easier for us by replacing the shariah of fasting with one which is more suitable to our condition. Even Prophet Muhammad's companion, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr who narrated the two Hadith above, at the end of his age lamented that he should have followed the advice of the Prophet to fast for a few days only for a month.

Not speaking while fasting


The fast presribed upon Mary, Mother of Jesus peace be him, not only required her to not eat and drink, but also required her to keep quiet and not speak a word at all to anyone. Any word spoken will effectively nullify her fast. The description of the fast of Mary can be found in the Quran in the 19th chapther of the Quran which is Surah Maryam.

Within the verses in the Quran relating the story of Mary, we know that when her people came to her to ask her of the status of the baby that she was carrying, Mary who pledged to fast on that day did not spoke a word to defend herself. All she could do was to point at baby Jesus peace be upon him and Behold! with the will of Allah Jesus spoke to the people, defending the chastity of her mother and confirming his prophethood to the Children of Israel.

Translation:
[26] So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'
[27] At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!"
[28] "O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
[29] But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
[30] He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;"
[31] "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;"
[32] "(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
[Maryam, 19:26-32]

However, for us the followers of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, not speaking while fasting will not nullify our fast but only a recommended thing to do as it is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet. And of course, other than those mentioned above, other prophets have also brought with them different methods of fasting suited to the condition of their people.

So from the methods of fasting of the people before us mentioned above, it is obvious that the fast that is prescribed upon us now is a much simplified command compared to the fast prescribed to those before us. So Merciful is Allah that those who cannot bear to fast, sick or on a journey are allowed not to fast.

And so Generous is Allah that, as I mentioned in the previous post, all the rewards of our good deeds on the month of Ramadhan are multiplied. May, by the end of this Ramadhan, we become a better person and a better Muslim, and most importantly achieve the real purpose of fasting throughout the month, as mentioned in the opening Quranic verse of this post, which is TAQWA.

*This post is a translation of a Q&A from www.eramuslim.com with my own additions and editions. The original text can be viewed here.