Images of Scientific Miracles: Fasting and Anger (Archived)

The complete and correct concept of fasting includes much more than refrain from food and drink. It requires that the Muslim abstains with all his senses from everything that angers God. This part might even have more impact on the self and is harder to commit to.

 

That is why our prophet (PBUH) ordered us to specially avoid what leads us to get angry. Abu Huraira – may God be pleased with him – said “The prophet (PBUH) said: If it was a fasting day for one of you, he may not have sexual relations and may not be noisy, and if he was verbally insulted by someone let him say “I am fasting.” Unanimous.

 

Anger is detestable every day in a Muslim’s life, although the prophet’s concentration on “a fasting day for one of you” is an image of scientific miracles.

 

Modern medicine cleared up a form of these miracles: when we get angry, the production of Adrenaline in our bodies increases tens of times. Adrenaline is a hormone that has many functions in the body, of which 4 of them will be mentioned in this article along with their effect during the “fasting day for one of you.”

 

First: Adrenaline causes laxity of the digestive system and steers blood towards the muscles and the heart, which leads to an instability in the digestive system in general and causes indigestion if anger and agitation occurred during the time of food absorption during the first day of fasting.

 

The instability of the digestive system destabilizes the whole body, and the person fasting starts his day with instability in all his organs in addition to a bad mood.

 

Second: Adrenaline increases the speed of burning stored Glycogen in the liver, which is an important deposit that turns into glucose in the bloodstream and provides the body with the energy that is needed during a day of fasting.

 

In case of anger, as we mentioned earlier, the production of adrenaline in the body increases tens of times, causing the stored glycogen to burn quickly to provide the body with the energy it needs during argument and fighting, which exploits the energy of the body while fasting, and by noon a fasting person starts feeling extreme fatigue and stress as a result of using his energy the wrong way.

 

Third: Adrenaline increases urine production, so the fasting person loses more liquids if he gets angry while fasting, which overworks the kidneys and the heart and harms the body. The fasting person might experience extreme thirst and dehydration and fatigue towards the end of the day as a result of an increased production of that hormone during his anger.

 

Fourth: In general, adrenaline increases the rate of heart beat, blood pressure and causes the blood vessels in the limbs to shrink as the heart needs more oxygen. If the coronary artery was ill enough to cause a stroke on its inner wall, whether or not the person was aware of that, anger might cause embolism and death of the muscle in what is called a heart attack.

 

The one who gets angry, especially during Ramadan, over trivial matters other than what causes God’s wrath misses a lot of benefits, one of which is the reward for fasting, as well as the disregard of the brain and waste of energy.

 

Ibn Omar said to the prophet of God “Tell me something and make it short so I may understand it” and the prophet said “Don’t get angry.” He asked again and the prophet said “Don’t get angry.” He asked him again and he said “Don’t get angry.” Right was the holy prophet.

 

“Nor does he speak from his own inclination, It is not but a revelation revealed.”

 

 

OKAZ Newspaper – Tuesday 29 Ramadan 1418 AH falling on 27 January 1998 AD