Background and Objective: Fasting, an Islamic practice with spiritual importance, has potential benefits for physical and mental health. Despite numerous studies, there is a lack of comprehensive comparative study on the effects of fasting based on Islamic teachings and scientific findings. This study aims to investigate the effects of fasting on physical and mental health by comparing perspectives from Islamic and scientific sources.
Methods: This study used a directed qualitative content analysis method. The data were collected from Islamic texts in English or Arabic, including the Quran, hadiths, and interpretations, as well as scientific articles in medicine and psychology published in English up to 2023, which were searched in PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science databases. Data were analyzed to identify similarities and differences between Islamic and scientific perspectives.
Results: Fasting affects physical health by reducing inflammation, regulating metabolism and weight balance, enhancing immune system function, and improving cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health. Fasting affects mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, strengthening willpower and self-control, boosting happiness and spiritual intelligence, and improving social cohesion. The comparative study revealed that Islamic and scientific findings are mostly in agreement, though differences exist between their approaches and objectives.
Conclusion: This study highlights the compatibility between Islamic teachings and scientific findings regarding the mental and physical health benefits of fasting, emphasizing the potential of integrating Islamic practices into scientific strategies to enhance individual and social well-being.