Starving oneself as a spiritual exercise

· 29 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1442 AH1 min readEnglish
Tasawwuf

Question

Is starving oneself (i.e. eating just enough to sustain oneself for prayers/ibaadah/tazkiyah etc.) permissible in Islam?

Answer

These spiritual exercises are not objectives and goals in themselves, but are remedies for certain spiritual maladies. Hence, these spiritual exercises should not be carried out except under the supervision and guidance of a qualified spiritual mentor.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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