Fasting

I’ve been reading too much theology lately…I’m becoming a phony theologian and writing mini-treatises…

A famous practice of Sufi Islam (broadly described, Islamic mysticism) is “dhikr.” Literally, the word means “remembrance.” Sufis use it to refer to their goal of constantly remembering and considering God. It goes along with the Sunni idea of “ihsan” (“righteousness,” “sincerity”), to “worship God as though you see God.” The issue arises, though – how do we incessantly keep God on our minds as we live, work, play? Sufi Muslims would gather as a community to perform dhikr, with the ultimate goal of doing it always, so that it becomes as constant as breathing. Many times, giving up something for Lent is said to help an individual remember God. Every time you see something that you gave up (you want to drink that coffee but you gave up caffeine, you want to watch the premiere of that movie tonight but gave up TV, etc.), the intention is that your mind is turned to God. The same has often been said of fasting. Every time your stomach grumbles, you’re supposed to think of God. Fasting, then, is not actually about giving up food (though it is in some forms of fasting). Fasting is about dhikr, about remembering and paying attention to God. Though this isn’t the sole reason I fast during Lent, it is a major contributor.
But here’s the catch. In Sufi Islam, true dhikr doesn’t require going to your church, gathering as a community, and following prescribed rituals in order to help you focus. True dhikr is obtained when it simply becomes part of you. You don’t fast to fast. Fasting is a tool. As such, the true objective of fasting is to reach a point where one no longer has to fast in order to obtain the spiritual benefits of fasting. I shouldn’t need Lent or hunger to feel as close to God as I do during this season.
And that is my prayer for all the world. That we may live in dhikr. Remembering, always. Thinking about, always. What it is you’re remembering or thinking about is fairly irrelevant, be it Allah, God, love, justice. Just so long as you’re thinking.