All great heavenly religions have their own holy book. Bible is Christians’ holy book and Quran is Muslims’. Health has been mentioned in 37 verses (Ayats) of Holy Quran. The first verse has a clear message on fasting.

Even though Quran is not a scientific book, it includes so many scientific points in various areas. Healthy life and living, healthy diet and foods are considered to be very prominent and of great importance.

Fasting is one of the subjects, which has been studied in different countries’ labs and clinics. In the following verse, fasting has been commanded to be done by all Muslims who are healthy and residing in their home town and not taking a journey.

Al-baqara , chapter 2 verse 184: Fasting for a fixed number of days; but if  any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number( should be made up) from later days. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free-will—it is better for him and it is better for ye fast, if ye only knew.

Fasting can refresh our mind and body. It enables billions of biochemical interactions inside our cells, specially the cells that form our gastrointestinal system, including; gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas.

Liver like a gigantic factory is responsible for changing glucose to glycogen and vise versa, detoxification, cholesterol metabolism and etc.

Fasting is indeed, one of the best and most useful health tips mentioned in Muslims’ holy book. Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) says: “Soomoo tasehhoo” ,i.e. fast to be healthy.

- Why has Quran considered ill people and travelers as exceptions?

As you know when one is healthy he is balanced, spiritually, psychologically, mentally, emotionally and physically.

Whenever the balanced state is disturbed and untuned, health changes to illness and disease occurs.

What about being on journey? It seems one’s body experiences certain changes during a journey, the least of which is getting exhausted and nervous, diabetic patients experience blood serum rise or some people get constipated.

We can say that journeys unbalance us, as well. So fasting is prohibited for one who is unbalanced during a long trip. Allah is indeed, kinder than moms to their kids.