Peace be upon you,

Excellent question! Fasting is much deeper than that and it helps us attain enormous personal, spiritual, intellectual, and physical benefits if we understand what it means to have taqwa (God consciousness) and actually put it into practice.

Allah (subhanau wa ta’ala) says in the Noble Qur’an (as translated into English):

{O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may [gain taqwa]} (Qur’an 2: 183)

The word taqwa, from the word (weqaya i.e. protection), means to protect ourselves and our souls by doing the righteous acts that the Creator prescribed, and to refrain from the transgressions that He prohibited.

Imagine, for example, you taking a cold shower then you come out with your hair wet to find your window open- which may lead you to catch cold-, so you rush to close it. This is a form of (weqaya/protection). It has to do with acts that prevents harm and brings goodness.

When we have taqwa, we do the acts that prevents the anger of Allah and earns us His pleasure. By leaving what He has prohibited and doing what He commanded, we earn spiritual benefits and rewards in this world and the next, and we avoid His anger or punishment.

How is fasting related to taqwa?

We fast for hours while the food and drinks are right in front of us. Yet we don’t touch them while we can easily do so. Training ourselves to restrain our desires for a period of time for the pleasure of Allah and the purification of our soul help us attain taqwa.

While fasting, we control the basic physical desires (food, drink, sexual intercourse) to gain spiritual strength. We weaken the physical being to strengthen the spiritual being. We do that by always thinking about Allah (i.e. being God-conscious).

Whenever we see certain things that are prohibited during the fast we remember Allah and refrain from transgressing or breaking the commitment of fasting … this helps us become mutaqeen (become people of taqwa, i.e. God consciousness).

So, controlling our desires instead of following them blindly or being enslaved by them is something that is much appreciated and rewarded by the Creator, Allah Almighty.

What is the reward of taqwa?

This word with its derivatives is mentioned over 200 times in the Qur’an.

Allah Almighty told us about Al mutaqeen (those who have taqwa):

{Indeed, Allah loves al-mutaqeen.} (Qur’an 3: 76)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be in a secure place.} (Qur’an 44: 51)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be among gardens and springs.} (Qur’an 51: 15)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be among gardens and rivers.} (Qur’an 54: 54)

{And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for [al mutaqeen].} (Qur’an 3: 133)

{Indeed, the [mutaqeen] will be among shades and springs. And fruits from whatever they desire, [Being told], “Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do”. Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.} (Qur’an 77: 41-44)

{Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were [mutaqoon], for them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment.} (Qur’an 10: 62-64)

{And whoever fears Allah (has taqwa) – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.} (Qur’an 65: 2-3)

{[…] and whoever fears Allah (has taqwa) – He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.} (Qur’an 65: 5)

I hope this helps answer your question. Please keep in touch. 

Salam.