Fasting before Islam.. The ancient Mesopotamian civilizations used to fast for religious and “economic” goals.
Fasting was known in Iraq with its ancient peoples who inhabited it, including the Sumerians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Sabian-Mandaeans. But what is the nature of fasting and what is its purpose, according to the beliefs in which they believed?
The opinions of researchers and specialists varied between those who see fasting as an ancient custom among ancient civilizations for the purpose of religious rapprochement, and those who believe that it was imposed by the heavenly religions, but it differs in terms of application from one religion to another.
Regarding fasting among the peoples of Mesopotamia, the researcher in the sciences and history of civilizations and religions, Dr. Khazal Al-Majidi, says that fasting among the Sumerians was based on the basis of prohibiting a certain type of animal or vegetable food for apparently religious reasons linked to a specific myth, while the deeper reasons were economic in an attempt to limit consumption. A type of meat or plant, especially during times of drought and depression. Fasting was not a fixed and periodic tradition.
Al-Khazali explains that fasting was clearly known and practiced by some Assyrian kings, as we read in one of those texts from King Esarhaddon describing his condition after fasting as hungry, and it seems that his insistence on continuing to fast may be due to his being one of the most religious Assyrian kings, as Many royal letters indicate this, Concerning the Chaldeans, Al-Khazali points out that they used to fast for 30 days, which is the number of days that the sun travels from each of its signs, and they did not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, as if fasting was directed to the sun (Shamash), and breakfast was devoid of meat, but it included dairy and plants. .
Fasting is considered by the Sabians to be one of the best deeds, and is divided into two parts: major and minor. This is according to the book “Fasting among the Sabian-Mandaeans” by the writer Hossam Hashem Al-Eidani.
Great fasting is the fasting of the soul in heart, mind, conscience, vision, speech, and hearing, and by refraining it from falling into forbidden things.
As for the small fast, it is the fasting of the body from worldly pleasures, and its purpose is to subjugate and tame the soul in the body. The small fast is considered an obligatory obligation for the Sabians, in 36 days distributed throughout the year.
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