Fasting Improves Mental Health by Reducing Stress and Increasing Tranquility

IQNA – Fasting not only leads to piety and self-discipline, but as a spiritual practice, it also has positive mental and emotional effects.

One of these benefits is the reduction of stress and an increase in tranquility. When a person refrains from eating and drinking for a certain period, their mind and body gain an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate.

This process can help reduce daily stress and increase inner peace. In Quranic thought, one of the ways to attain tranquility is through worship. God says in Verse 28 of Surah Ar-Rad: “Remembrance of God certainly brings comfort to all hearts.”

This verse clearly indicates that the remembrance of God can help bring peace to the heart and reduce stress. Worshipping God, as a spiritual practice, has positive effects on the human spirit and mind, enabling individuals to distance themselves from the stresses and worries of everyday life.

Since fasting is also a form of worship, it can be concluded that fasting brings peace along with it. Fasting provides an opportunity for self-purification and practicing patience and perseverance. This process helps individuals achieve inner calm and distance themselves from daily stressors.

According to Verse 183 of Surah Al-Baqarah, “Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will be cautious.”

This verse indicates that fasting leads to piety and self-restraint, which in turn can help reduce stress and increase tranquility.

Scientifically, there are numerous findings that confirm fasting’s positive impact on mental health. Research has shown that fasting can help lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol and improve mood states. Additionally, fasting can lead to an increase in the levels of endorphins in the body, which enhances feelings of well-being and relaxation. These findings suggest that fasting has positive effects on mental health, not only spiritually but also physically.

In general, fasting is introduced in the Holy Quran as an important and valuable act of worship that can have positive effects on a person’s mental health. By engaging in fasting and focusing on the remembrance of God, individuals can attain a sense of spiritual peace that reduces daily stress and enhances the quality of life.

This sacred practice provides people with an opportunity, during a special month, to purify their souls, improve social relationships, and strengthen their faith, guiding them towards a better and more tranquil life.