O you who believe prescribed for you is the fast just as it was pre- scribed for those that were before you so that you might guard yourselves. Fasting ṣawm is of two types: the external fast which is abstention from things that break the fast mufṬarāt accompanied by the intention [to fast] and the inner fast which is to protect ṣawn the heart from dif- ferent kinds of harm āfāt then to protect the spirit from familiar com- forts musākanāt and then to protect the inner self from considerations mulāḥaẓāt [of anything but God]. It is said that the requirement of the fasting of worshipers if it is to be complete is to protect the tongue from slander ghība and to protect the glance from viewing [anything] with suspicion rība as it is said in the tradition “Whoever fasts let him fast with his ears his eyes....” As for the fast of those with deep knowledge it is to guard the innermost self from witnessing anything other than Him. For those who abstain from the things that break the fast the end of their fast [comes] when night falls. For those who fast from everything other [than Him] the end of their fast [comes when] they witness the Real. [The Prophet] ﷺ said “Fast to see Him and break your fast to see Him.” According to the people of realization ahl al-taḥqīq [in this ḥadīth the letter] hāÌ in [the Prophet's] words li-ruÌyatihi refers to the Real سبحانه.289 The religious scholars ʿulamāÌ say its meaning is “Fast when you see the new moon of RamaḌān and break your fast when you see the new moon of Shawwāl.” As for the elect their fast is for God because their witnessing is of God their breaking of the fast is through God and their approach is to God. The One who prevails over them is God and the One through whom they are effaced is God.
