What is fasting?
Jillian Kubala, RD states that fasting is abstaining from eating and drinking for a certain period. This practice can help manage weight, improve blood sugar, and support better overall health, but it may not be safe for everyone.
What does Ramadan stand for in Islam?
The IslamicInfoCenter posit that Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the most sacred periods in Islam. Ramadan is the month in which Muslims observe Sawm, the obligatory fast from dawn until sunset. During fasting hours, adult Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and marital relations. Just as importantly, they strive to avoid sinful behavior, harmful speech, and negative attitudes. Observed by Muslims across the world, Ramadan is a month devoted for fasting, prayer, self-discipline, charity, and spiritual renewal. Its importance is rooted in the belief that the Holy Quran was first revealed during this month, making Ramadan a time of deep reflection and heightened devotion. It is a holistic spiritual experience that shapes character, strengthens faith, and encourages compassion.
The purpose of fasting is to develop taqwa, or consciousness of God. By willingly giving up lawful comforts, believers learn self-control, patience, and humility. Ramadan trains the soul to prioritize spiritual values over physical desires, reinforcing obedience to Allah in daily life. The Quran in Sural Al-Baqarah Ayah 183, Sural Al-Baqarah Ayah 184, Sural Al-Baqarah Ayah 185 supports Ramadan fully.
What does fast stand for in Christianity?
Bible Hub defines Fasting, as a spiritual discipline observed throughout the Bible, which serves multiple purposes in the life of a believer. It is a voluntary abstention from food, and sometimes drink, for a specified period, undertaken for spiritual reasons. The practice is deeply rooted in Scripture and is seen to draw closer to God, seek His guidance, and express repentance. Scriptures that support this are Joel 2 and Mattew 4:2. It further identifies the purposes of fasting in Christianity as need for repentance and humility (Jonah 3:5), seeking God’s guidance (Acts 13:2-3), spiritual warfare and deliverance (Mark 9:29), worship and devotion (Luke 2:37) and solidarity and intercession (Esther 4:16) among others.
Now that Ramadan and the Lent meets, what next?
Just as stated in both religions, fasting is a time of sober reflections and abstinence from habits that contaminates the Body and causes gaps with the Creator.
Some of those habits and traits are hatred for one another, lying, fraudulent activities, killing fellow humans in the name of religious belief, support for terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, illicit drug consumption, dishonesty, disloyalty, immoral activities to mention a few.
18th February 2026 brings conjoined Islam and Christianity to get closer to the supreme Maker.
While the Muslims have 29 to 30 days abstinence, the Christians have 40 days abstinence, the big question is, would these average 30 days abstinence bring about a change in habits and characters of those practicing these religions? Are we going to see better Beings for the progress of our nation? Would the bloodshed, attacks on Towns and Villages stop? Would banditry, terrorism, fraudulent acts, vices be a thing of the past?
Now that Ramadan and the Lent meets, will governance improve for the betterment of the masses? Now that Ramadan and the Lent meets, will our love for the sanctity of lives be respected? Now that Ramadan and the Lent meets, how truthful and patriotic will you be to your nation?
It’s time to ask ourselves and do a lot of soul searching. It’s not all about fasting without corresponding action of playing our roles, it’s about observing the Ramadan and Lent and becoming the change agent we clamour to see.
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