The path to building a new habit is filled with focus and overcoming of desires. Fasting can actually help you train your soul to form an improved lifestyle. Sh. Abdullah Oduro explains how this fourth pillar of Islam plays an important role in developing a Muslim's self-control and discipline.

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Episode Transcript

(Note: the transcript has been edited for clarity)

0:00 - 0:14 Introduction

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. I'm Abdullah Oduro and welcome back.

0:15 - 1:05 Leaving behind what you love

There was a lady that i met in the gym one time. Her name was Jocelyn and she was someone that loved to run. But when I asked her what she loved to do, I found out that running was her hobby - running was her hobby. You see, she hurt her ankle or tendon - something in her foot - when she was running, and she knew that if she was to continue running it would be more detrimental to her future. So she decided to leave off one of her most beloved things in life which is running, specifically long distance running. She started to come to the gym and work out by lifting weights and things of that nature. So it was something that she left off that was not immoral, it was not bad rather it was something that is beneficial for her, which is running, which is good for her health and her heart.

1:06 - 1:56 Overcoming unhealthy desires

What about Jake? Jake is someone that used to love eating bread. But when he went for a physical, the doctor told him "look your sugar levels are high, your insulin is pretty high, you know we fear for you diabetes, so you really need to watch your sugar intake." And obviously the carbohydrates and bread and white bread was something that was detrimental to his health, so he knew primarily that he had to leave them off or lessen his bread intake. When he did that, he felt the difference immediately. He was sharper and less lethargic. He started to do intermittent fasting and leaving off any types of sugar - from rice and potatoes, white potatoes. After leaving off eating those things and lessening his food intake, he saw the change when he looked in the mirror, that is, when he started by leaving off that which was detrimental to him for a better outcome in life.

1:57 - 2:16 Fasting as a means of self-control

Fasting the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. This is a beautiful pillar of Islam because it is a means of self-control, as all of them are. When we talked about zakat, it was a means of controlling your finances and controlling your commodities and what you own, not letting them control you.

2:17 - 3:32 Fasting in Ramadan teaches discipline

So when we talk about fasting the month of Ramadan it is a conditioning and discipline of the soul, and of the spirit. Discipline as we defined, is consistent acts of willpower. When you see that sweet or that cinnamon roll or bread or something that gives you a desire to fulfill that rush, that you know is detrimental for you, you leave it off. That choice is willpower. Consistently doing that, is discipline. So within everything that Allah instructs, it's in order to make us disciplined, principled, individuals, to fulfill our ultimate purpose in life. And Ramadan is a means in doing that. To make us mindful of which is called the Muttaqeen. When looking at this month of Ramadan, that is what we're talking about in the pillar of Islam of fasting. You can fast in general, but it's particularly talking about the 30 days in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. May Allah SWT make you disciplined individuals and those that know how to tame our souls for that which is better for our souls, and those around us. Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you.