Fasting : a poem by Jelaluddin Rumi

A poem on the joys of fasting by Jelaluddin Rumi, who was born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207.

Fasting

<sup>Fasting: A Spiritual Odyssey from Rumi’s Afghanistan to Global Wisdom

Jelaluddin Rumi, the 13th-century mystic poet, was born in Balkh, a city in present-day Afghanistan then thriving as a cultural and spiritual hub of the Persian Empire.</sup>

^{His verses on fasting transcend mere abstinence, weaving themes of purification, divine connection, and inner renewal.}

<sup>Let’s journey through Rumi’s world, explore fasting’s role in global spirituality, and uncover its timeless health wisdom.

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Rumi & Ancient Afghanistan: The Cradle of Sufism</sup>

<sup>Rumi’s birthplace, Balkh, was a crossroads of Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and Islamic traditions.

Known as the “Mother of Cities,” it nurtured his poetic genius.

Fleeing Mongol invasions, Rumi’s family settled in Konya (Turkey), where he became a beacon of Sufism—Islam’s mystical path emphasizing love, introspection, and union with the Divine.

For Sufis, fasting (*sawm*) is not just physical restraint but a gateway to dissolving ego, symbolized in Rumi’s line: *“If the brain and belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire.”*

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Sufi Fasting: Beyond the Body</sup>

^{In Sufism, fasting sharpens spiritual awareness.}

It’s paired with practices like *dhikr* (chanting God’s names) and *sama* (ecstatic dance).

Rumi compares fasting to “Solomon’s ring”—a metaphor for sovereignty over the self.

By emptying the stomach, the soul makes space for divine whispers, echoing his belief that *“the fog clears, and new energy makes you run up the steps in front of you.”*

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**Fasting in Chinese Spirituality:
Daoist Alchemy & Buddhist Discipline**

In China, fasting harmonized body and spirit. Daoist sages practiced *bigu* (“avoiding grains”), believing abstention purified the body for immortality.

Fasting accompanied meditation to balance *qi* (life force). Buddhist monks fasted during afternoon hours or retreats, cultivating mindfulness.

Like Rumi’s “hidden sweetness,” Chinese traditions saw fasting as a path to clarity—a detoxification of mind and matter.

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**Health Through the Ages: From Hippocrates to Modern Science**

Ancient healers championed fasting: Hippocrates prescribed it to heal, Ayurveda linked it to *agni* (digestive fire), and Islamic medicine viewed it as preventive care.

Modern research echoes this, highlighting intermittent fasting’s role in autophagy (cellular renewal) and metabolic health. Rumi’s metaphor of “good habits gather[ing] like friends” mirrors the body’s innate healing when unburdened by excess.

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**Poets & Sages on Fasting: A Universal Chorus**

– **Hafez**: The Persian Sufi poet wrote of hunger as a “lamp guiding to love’s feast.”

– **Jesus & Moses**: Biblical figures fasted 40 days for spiritual fortitude.

– **Pythagoras**: Greek philosophers fasted to sharpen the mind.

– **Tagore**: Celebrated fasting as a “silent revolution” against materialism.

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**Conclusion: The Eternal Feast of the Soul**

Rumi’s poem reminds us that fasting is a universal hymn—a bridge between emptiness and abundance.

From Afghan deserts to Chinese mountains, seekers have turned inward to find “a table descend[ing] with other food, better than the broth of cabbage.”

Whether through Sufi fire, Daoist qi, or modern science, fasting remains a testament to humanity’s quest for transcendence and vitality.

*“We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music.”* —Rumi

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**Tags**: #Rumi #Sufism #Fasting #AncientWisdom #InterfaithSpirituality #HealthTradition #Poetry

**Engage**: How does fasting resonate with your spiritual or wellness journey? Share below! 🌙✨