[NicolasOL]

Inner Dimensions of Fasting:From Imam Ghazali's Ihya Ul Uloom

Three grades of fasting

It should be known that there are three grades of fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.

Ordinary fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.

Special fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes,tongue, hands and feet-and all other organs-free from sin.

Extra-special fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but Allah
Read full :
http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012...from-imam.html

Why Observe the Inward Aspects of Fasting?- Imam Ghazali

Importance of Observing Inward Aspects

Now you may say: 'Suppose someone confines himself to
curbing his appetite for food and drink and his sexual desire,
to the neglect of the inward aspects. According to the
experts in jurisprudence (Fiqh) his Fast (Saum) is valid.
So what are we to make of this?'


You must realise that the scholars of external legality are
concerned only with such obligations as fall within the capac-
ity of ordinary heedless people, wholly caught up in the affairs
of this world.
As for those learned in knowledge of the Hereafter, the
meaning they attach to validity is acceptance, and by accept-
ance they mean attainment of the goal.
Read full :
http://tazkiyatips.blogspot.com/2012...f-fasting.html