₦airaland Forum

Ever8090:
Muslim fasting is for show...in Christianity, you are not suppose to let people even know you are fasting because you are fasting to God not man .. christians don't wake up to eat breakfast and lunch in one sitting then wait for dinner. Muslims ests even more during fasting than ordinary days...person go eat from 7 pm to 530 am, .then starts forming tiredness for people to see like say person send them message....

ogashman:
Una wey carry religion for head dey really think?

All these are balderdash.

Live your life and see every everyone as human first.

Nobody knows what will happen in the after life.

AntiChristian:
A Christian supposedly taunted a Muslim and said:


Here is the response in full:

Thank you for your response. However, Fasting in Islam and Christianity are not the same. I will highlight the difference for you if you can read!

Summary
Fasting in Islam is a clearly defined, obligatory pillar of faith established by Prophet Muhammad and enshrined in the Qur'an, with a fixed month (Ramadan) and daily fasting hours. It serves multiple spiritual and social purposes, with strong communal participation and explicit rewards promised.

In contrast, Christian fasting is more varied, generally voluntary, and lacks a single universal fast mandated for all believers simultaneously. It is rooted in biblical tradition and the example of Jesus but is practiced differently across denominations, often focusing on penitence, spiritual preparation, and personal devotion rather than strict communal obligation.

Critical Contrast of Fasting in Islam and Christianity
1. Establishment and Scriptural Basis
Islam
Establishment by Prophet Muhammad:
Fasting in Islam was firmly established by Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime, particularly after the migration (Hijra) to Medina. The practice was institutionalized as one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a fundamental act of worship. The Prophet himself fasted regularly, especially during Ramadan and on other recommended days.

Fasting in the Qur'an:
The Qur'an explicitly commands fasting in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183-185), where fasting during the month of Ramadan is ordained for Muslims as a means of attaining "taqwa" (God-consciousness). The Qur'an specifies the month (Ramadan), the duration (dawn to sunset), and the exemption for certain groups (e.g., travelers, the sick).

Christianity
Establishment by Jesus and Early Christians:
Fasting in Christianity is less uniformly mandated. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2), setting an example of spiritual preparation and reliance on God. However, fasting is not codified as a universal, obligatory practice for all Christians at a specific time. Early Christian fasting practices varied widely, often linked to Lent or other penitential seasons.

Fasting in the Bible:
The Bible contains many references to fasting (Old and New Testaments), but no single, universal fast is mandated for all Christians. The New Testament encourages fasting as a spiritual discipline (e.g., Matthew 6:16-18), but it is generally voluntary and varies by denomination.

2. Month and Duration of Fasting
Islam
Month of Fasting:
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is the designated month for obligatory fasting.

Duration of Daily Fast:
From dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib), Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations.

Length of the Month:
Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar sighting.

Christianity
Month or Season of Fasting:
Lent, a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) before Easter, is the primary fasting season in many Christian traditions. Other fasting days include Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Duration of Daily Fast:
Varies widely. Some Christians fast from all food for a day, others abstain from certain foods (e.g., meat), and some fast only part of the day.

Length of the Season:
Lent lasts approximately 40 days, symbolizing Jesus’ 40 days of fasting.

3. Purpose and Theological Significance of Fasting
Islam
Why Fast?

*To attain taqwa (God-consciousness and piety).
*To develop self-discipline and empathy for the poor and hungry.
*To purify the soul and seek forgiveness.
*To fulfill a divine commandment and strengthen community bonds.

Reward of Fasting:
The Qur'an and Hadith emphasize great spiritual reward. The Prophet Muhammad said fasting is for Allah alone, and its reward is immense, including forgiveness of sins and entrance to Paradise (Sahih Bukhari).

Christianity
Why Fast?

*To repent and seek forgiveness.
*To prepare spiritually for significant events (e.g., Easter).
*To practice self-denial and grow closer to God.
*To express mourning or petition God in times of need.

Reward of Fasting:
The New Testament emphasizes sincerity in fasting rather than public display (Matthew 6:16-18). Rewards are spiritual growth, humility, and deeper communion with God rather than explicit promises of forgiveness or paradise.

4. Frequency and Practice of Fasting by Prophets
Prophet Muhammad

Fasted regularly during Ramadan as obligatory.
Also fasted on other days (e.g., Mondays and Thursdays, the Day of Arafah).
His fasting practices were well documented and formed the basis for Islamic law.

Jesus Christ
Fasted once for 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2).
No explicit record of Jesus instituting a regular fast for all followers.
Encouraged fasting but emphasized the spirit and humility behind it.

5. Communal and Individual Fasting Obligations
Islam
Are Muslims told to fast?
Yes, fasting during Ramadan is obligatory for all adult Muslims who are physically and mentally able. It is a communal pillar of faith, uniting Muslims worldwide in the same month.

Christianity
Are Christians told to fast all at the same time?
No universal mandate exists. Different denominations observe fasting differently. For example, Catholics and Orthodox Christians observe Lent, but the exact practices and strictness vary. Protestant traditions often emphasize voluntary fasting.

Also See attached screenshot!

Ever8090:
Bross, this copy and paste you threw in my face here does not in anyway connect to my concern....but nice try though

Freegoodies:
Bro, you did not address anything that the guy said. Everybody knows that there is a big contrast between fasting by Christians and that of Muslims. What he was talking of was what you people do and call it fasting. Normally, when not fasting, you wake up and eat normal breakfast by 8 or 9 am...but when you "fast" you wake up earlier and eat it by around 5 am. And not just that, you practically eat enough to fill you up for two meals. And then you eat another meal by around 7pm and call it breaking your fast. So basically, you woke up by 5 to start your fast with a belly full of food...and you will refill the belly by 7pm and you call it fasting.

Now Christian fasting, you don't wake up to eat anything. If you are fasting, you know you are fasting. It is doing what fasting means - denying yourself food... unlike what you do wherein you are filling up your belly and claiming to deny yourself food

AntiChristian:
Where was it copied from?

Is there anything apart from the truth in it?

Next time don't start what you can't finish! There's a limit to what your holy spirit can do!

Ever8090:
I will respond to your last comment suggesting I shouldn't start what I can't finish "... actually I started something I understand very well and it is obvious that either you do not understand or u clearly does not have an argument or defense for it hence you came up with something entirely different from the topic I raised, and that still stands, it is required you use your brain and come up with something that is in direct response to my point than copying an epistle that entice you but completely not in line with the topic....my point is, Islamic fasting is for show and has no spiritual attachment, the reason is, you guys eat even more during fasting period, you put up a face of tiredness for people to see that you are fasting which is in direct contrast to christians fasting as required from God which is, don't blow a trumpet for all to know that you are fasting, don't even allow people know , christians doesn't wake up and eat breakfast and lunch at a seating then wait for dinner........

You also said " there is limit to what my holly spirit can do"..this is a clear announcement that Islam has nothing to do with God hence they reject the holy spirit which is an aspect of God you can't reject yet claim you are spiritually connected to God..how!!!!!?

SIRTee15:
abeg, fasting for islam no be am. How can u eat breakfast, skip lunch, eat dinner and then claim he's fasting.
anyway to each his own.

My own is how did Muhammed know he's a prophet. Who told Muhammed he's a prophet.

Can someone tell me how Muhammed got to know the person speaking to him is Angel Jirbil

AntiChristian:
Your claims are erroroneous and needed corrections first. I have highlighted your claims above and will point out the errors/falsehood again. I'm amazed at how Christians who boast of having the holy Spirit tell lies through their teeth without clear understanding of what they are saying. The Islamic fasting is not for show! It is a command from Allah for all capable and able Muslims to fast. It is the Christian fasting that has no backing for them to fast as Christians in the Bible. Jesus fasted as a Jew and not as a Christian. And how do you know people are putting up of face of tiredness and that they are really not tired? So if i am tired i should pretend not to be tired? This is a silly comment! Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be given a ten-fold reward, up to seven hundred. Allah says: ‘Except fasting, for it is for Me, and I shall reward for it, for he gives up his desire and his food for My sake…’ and the fasting person has two joys, one joy when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. And the smell from his mouth is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5927; Muslim, 1151)

And my major problem with you Christians is who told you to fast? Where in the Bible was your type of fasting described? You are just comparing an established fact in Islam to an unfounded one in Christianity! What do you understand by spirituality? What spirituality exists in dancing, clapping and singing as you do today?

Why do we fast?
Allah says: O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah˺. (Al-Baqarah 2:183).

So the spirituality of fasting in Islam is not what you can see in your Christianity! You can only see your own form of spirituality! Those who had been doing wrong deeds before fasting are expected to stop. Alcoholism, prostitution, taking Usury, Gambling and all other vices Islam forbidded are to be stopped! And we try to continue to live life in this way! And you claim there's no spirituality attached to our fasting? You guys sabi lie!

And lastly, fasting is not only about food, sex and water!

Of course i said that as the Holy Spirit in you has sure wrongly guided you here. If you had the Holy spirit in you, you would have known that fasting in Islam reduces vices and curbs a lot especially among the Muslims. Hardly would you see a fasting Muslim fornicate, drink alcohol or Gamble.

So the aim of fasting is been clearly achieved!

Allah says: O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah˺. (Al-Baqarah 2:183).

So once again, we eat when we are permitted to eat - and that is obedience to Allah!
We don't eat (aka Fast) during the time we are told not to eat - and this is also obedience!

Our fasting and your fasting are not the same! One is firmly established and your is not established!

Prophet Muhammad fasted for about a decade in his life time!
Jesus fasted as a Jew for 40 days only once in his life time! And never established anything about how you should fast as a Christian.

Gabrielshow24:
That's not his point, you are just focused on a straw man. His point is why is it that during fasting most Muslims apparently gain weight👀🤨

AntiChristian:
How many people have you seen gain weight?

Show evidence for your lies?

Even if you eat very well before 6am! Hardly will anything remain in your stomach by 12pm noon!

So where is the weight coming from?

Gabrielshow24:
Speak for yourself Habibi. A simple query will cure your delusions. It's an open secret🤨

AntiChristian:
This is compound ignorance!

So your accusations and lies has no prove?

Na so Holy Spirit directed people dey do!

AntiChristian:
How many people have you seen gain weight?

Show evidence for your lies?

Even if you eat very well before 6am! Hardly will anything remain in your stomach by 12pm noon!

So where is the weight coming from?

And even if they gain weight, is it your weight?

Why not focus on your fast wey you no dey eat?

Or must you start a conversation that doesn't in any way concern you?

Gabrielshow24:
Oh, I'm sorry—did I accidentally walk into your private living room? I thought this was an open forum. If you wanted a safe space where nobody notices the obvious, you might want to try a mirror instead of the internet.

But let’s address your 'scientific' breakthrough: 'Hardly will anything remain in your stomach by 12 PM!'😂😂

Someone skipped Biology 101👀. Weight gain isn't about having a full stomach at noon; it’s about caloric surplus. If you cram 4,000 calories of sugar and carbs into your body at 4 AM and 7 PM, your body doesn't just 'delete' them because it’s lunchtime. It stores them as fat. It’s called metabolism, not magic😂—Mangekyo Sharingan👀.

You jumped from a comment about weight gain to: 'Who told Christians to fast? Why do you dance and clap?' Seriously, what kind of mental gymnastics did you use to bridge that gap?🤔🥱

The Observation: 'Muslims often gain weight during Ramadan.'

Your Response: 'But... but... why do you guys sing in church?!'👀

You’re so desperate to deflect from the 'Iftar-Bulge'😮‍💨 that you’re attacking musical instruments😂. Is the 'spirituality' of your fast measured by how grumpy you are?🥱 Because if it’s measured by 'established facts,' the fact is that the Middle East sees a massive spike in Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular issues every Ramadan. Google it—it’s an 'established fact' that doesn't care about your feelings🤧🥱.

You’re trying to compare a ritualistic food-schedule to the 'spirituality' of Christian joy😊, all while claiming we have 'no foundation.👀' My friend, the only thing 'unfounded' here is your understanding of how a calorie works😂.

Keep your compound ignorance and your '12 PM empty stomach' theories 😂 to yourself. Some of us actually read books that aren't just for decoration. 😂🥱

AntiChristian:
Everything you wrote is still foolish! I haven't increased in weight! And i know some who had actually reduced. Also some us can't even eat much at night and early morning!

So Holy Spirit has directed you in error or at best you lack Holy Spirit.

SIRTee15:
abeg, fasting for islam no be am. How can u eat breakfast, skip lunch, eat dinner and then claim he's fasting.
anyway to each his own.

SIRTee15:
My own is how did Muhammed know he's a prophet. Who told Muhammed he's a prophet.

Can someone tell me how Muhammed got to know the person speaking to him is Angel Jirbil

AntiChristian:
Balderdash right! You'll speak grammar when you die!

We know what will happen!

And we'll all confirm it when the angel of death comes!

Gabrielshow24:
They are trusting Waraqah’s 'expert' testimony. 😂😂

That’s pure comedy. It’s exactly like me sitting in a windowless basement, having my friend tell me he saw a tall Caucasian man, and me immediately shouting: 'That was definitely Donald Trump! I just know it!' 🤨

No be juju be that?🤦🏾‍♂️

Imagine 'identifying' a supernatural being you weren't even in the room with. It’s no wonder he’s nicknamed 'The Ear' (Surah 9:61)—apparently, if you whisper it, he’ll believe it.😂

Qasim6:
Maybe because it's a command from our Lord and not hunger competition with Christians. If Una own is not to eat and drink anything for 100 days or whatever then you should keep to it. Eating sahur is a blessing from our Lord and we will gladly take it.
To each his own.



This is a joke right?
There are several verses of the Qur'an that identifies the angel as Gabriel/Ruh al-Qudus.

Qasim6:
It's always the empty ones with the loudest mouth. and it's a common traits among you Christians. You guys will straw-man anything and everything about Islam to score cheap points.

Where did Waraqa identify the being as Jibril/Gabriel?

Gabrielshow24:
Oh, look, it's a plane, it's a bird, it's Qasim😂—the supposed cavalry here to 'rescue' a failing argument with even more ignorance. 🍿

You’re asking where Waraqah identified the being? That’s bold. Are you calling Sahih Bukhari (1:1:3) a straw man now? Because that 'established fact' says Waraqah specifically told your prophet: 'This is the same Namus (Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses.'🤧

So, either your most authentic Hadith is 'scoring cheap points' against Islam, or you haven't actually read your own sources. Which is it? 🤨

As for your 'loudest mouth' comment—projection is a funny thing😅. You’re calling my points empty while your friend is still trying to explain why his stomach is 'empty' at noon but his waistline is expanding😂.

If you can manage an intellectually honest reply that doesn't involve ignoring your own Sahih narrations, I might stay. If not, I’ll leave you both to your shared delusions. It's crowded enough in there already. 🥱

Qasim6:
Lol
So Namus is another name for Gabriel now? Or why did u put Gabriel in bracket?

Your Assignment: Go and research Nomos(Greek)/Namosa(Syriac) before you display your ignorance here.

You guys can do better when arguing against Islam, y'all need to stop all these strawmanning, it doesn't look good on you.