“O you who believe, fast ing is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.”

Quran 2:183 (A.Y. Ali translation)

AS this verse makes clear, the discipline of fasting required of Muslims beginning over 1,400 years ago was not a new thing. Observant Jews still fast 25 hours for Yom Kippur and many Christians still participate in the 40-day semifast of Lent.

The verse also makes it very clear that there are lessons about self-restraint to be learned.

It has been 30 years since I made the profession of faith declaring “There is no God but God and Muhammad is God’s messenger.” With these words in October 1979, I became part of a worldwide community that now numbers more than a billion people. Though I have participated in the dawn-tosundown, 29- or 30-day fast of Ramadan 30 times, I am always struck by the amount of freedom fasting brings me.

The most basic freedom I feel is the clear sense that I do not have to be controlled by physical urges. If I can give up what is essential to life — food and drink — during daylight for one month, it is clear that, with some effort, I can master my unhealthful habits, such as overeating.

A second freedom I feel is liberation from useless talk. During Ramadan, we are encouraged to busy our tongues with extra prayer, remembering God often and speaking nicely to others. We are supposed to stop gossiping, back biting and saying any words that would hurt the feelings or harm the reputation of anyone. This discipline certainly frees me from the hassles that are caused by talking too much.

As we wrap up yet another Ramadan this weekend, the basic freedom that I find is the sense of being less dependent on the material world. Amazingly, as the month winds down, I feel less hungry, less thirsty and have fewer cravings for some of my favorite foods. I feel healthier. Ramadan emancipates me from always focusing on this transient material world. It reminds me there is something much greater than us.

For those who fast, the challenge is to take the freedom gained through self-restraint and apply it the rest of the year. If we can manage to do this, we can show that faith really does matter.

Jimmy E. Jones is associate professor of world religions at Manhattanville College and president of Masjid Al-Islam in New Haven. Write to him at 623 George St., New Haven 06511. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .