One day, I came across a book about Muslim fasting, but I can no longer find it. According to the book, fasting in Islam involves abstaining from food and drink until dusk, but it also emphasizes fasting of the mind, which involves purging negative thoughts and striving for truth-seeking. This sparked my interest in exploring the various types of fasting across cultures, as I realized that fasting is not unique to Muslims.
- Fasting In Ancient Egypt:
In my childhood, during Ramadan, my father would check the dusk’s dawn sky and tell us when to break. One day, I was about to break and He stopped me. I ask him why, and he told me about the Ancient Egyptians. They used to fast like the Muslims. Therefore, I found a piece of evidence about it from the website Raseef22. According to Waseem al-Sisi, a professor of Egyptology, fasting was a key part of Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, with individuals fasting for 30 days a year. The purpose of fasting was to teach self-control and uphold the moral law, which relied on the concept of restraint. In addition to abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset, individuals also refrained from sex during this period. The pharaohs believed that consuming plants of the earth would create a balance in the body, as they believed the body was made from the earth. Therefore, they would break their fast with dishes such as fūl (fava beans) and bessāra (a stew of beans and coriander)
2. Fasting in Ancient Greece:
According to the website Alimentarium; Ancient Greeks practiced fasting for different reasons. For athletes, it was a way to prepare their bodies for physical training before the Olympic Games. Additionally, fasting was believed to enhance intelligence and perspicacity. Pythagoras, for example, fasted for 40 days before his exams at Alexandria School and experienced a boost in clarity and physical strength. This experience prompted him to encourage his own pupils to practice fasting.
3. Fasting in the Incan Empire of Peru
The Journal of Young Investigators stated that during the Incan Dynasty, Inti Raymi was the most significant of four ceremonies held in Haukaypata, Cusco’s main square. The Inti Raymi was preceded by three days of purification and fasting, where participants would only consume water, uncooked corn, and chucam. According to Minikar ; in preparation for childbirth, the mother was required to confess and pray for easy delivery, while the husband would fast. The kikochiko ritual was a family event that marked a girl’s first menstruation. The girl would fast for three days while her mother weaved her into a new outfit.
4. Fasting in Hinduism
Fasting is not a compulsory practice in Hinduism, but rather a voluntary and spiritual act aimed at purifying the body and mind and seeking divine blessings. The severity and difficulty of fasting may vary based on individual, familial, and community beliefs. Hinduism observes several fasting periods, with Ekadashi being the most commonly practiced, occurring around twice a month on the eleventh day of each ascending and descending moon. The beginning of the year is marked by a celebration in honor of Shiva, and during July and August, many Hindus fast on Mondays and Saturdays until the evening while following a vegetarian diet. Furthermore, Hindu women often observe Monday fasts with the intention of finding a good husband.
5. Fasting of the Taita People from Kenya
The Taita people in East Africa practice a traditional three-day fast called “Nthenge.” This fast is observed by Taita men to cleanse their bodies and purify their souls through prayer and meditation. It is undertaken during times of crisis or preparation for important events.
In addition, the Nthenge fast, which lasts three days and is seen as a way to purify the body and soul during times of crisis or preparation. There is the Mwidzo fast, lasting a month, to honor ancestors and seek their blessings. During this fast, they eat only one meal a day and abstain from meat and alcohol. Additionally, communal fasting is practiced, where entire communities come together to fast and pray for specific intentions such as peace, healing, or prosperity.
Overall, fasting is a common practice across many cultures and religions around the world. The reasons for fasting and the ways it is practiced can vary widely, depending on the cultural or religious context. The above list is a non exhaustive one. Pope Shenouda III, the former Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, wrote in his book “The Spirituality of Fasting” that fasting is the oldest known commandment to humanity. According to Shenouda III, the first commandment given to Adam by God was to refrain from eating the fruit of a specific tree. Shenouda III interprets this commandment as setting boundaries for the body and demanding control over one’s will.
