For the Sufis, fasting is not merely the hunger of the stomach or the body abstaining from food.
Fasting is a silent journey a person takes toward the self — a movement from the outer world to the inner, from the body toward the heart; a state of purification unfolding within. In Sufism, the human being is not seen as flesh and bone alone, but as a unity of sight, speech, hearing, heart, and intention. Therefore, the Sufis say: If only the body remains hungry, it is merely a diet; but when the ego falls silent and the heart awakens, that is when fasting truly begins.
For the Sufis, fasting has five layers. Each layer gently loosens a person’s attachment to the world and draws them closer to truth; each step carries them away from noise and invites them into their inner silence. This journey begins with the stomach, becomes refined through the gaze, purified through speech, deepened through listening, and ultimately transforms into making space for the Divine within the heart. True fasting is not simply abstaining from food; it is the act of releasing what overflows from the self and returning to one’s essence.
1. The Fast of the Stomach
Leaving the stomach empty is not merely biological rest; it is the quieting of the body’s noise so that the voice of the soul may be heard.
Through hunger, a person realizes that they are not ruled by the voice that says, “I am hungry,” but are, in essence, a soul. This fast is not only about stopping eating; it is about learning contentment with “enough,” becoming the master of one’s body rather than a servant of appetite.
2. The Fast of the Eyes
The fast of the eyes is to turn one’s gaze from fault to manifestation — from seeking flaws to witnessing meaning.
Instead of seeing the shortcomings of others, it is to cover every mistake as the night covers the world in darkness. It is learning to perceive beauty within every event, and to recognize a trace of the Divine artistry in every particle, every flower, and every human face.
3. The Fast of the Tongue
The tongue is the gate of the heart; if the gate is not kept pure, the treasure within cannot be protected.
This fast is not only abandoning lies and gossip, but also letting go of all unnecessary speech. Words become upright, clear, and pure — like the letter Alif, straight and unwavering.
The Fast of Silence (I‘tikaf):
Especially during the last ten days of Ramadan, following the Prophetic tradition of retreat, one enters silence — withdrawing from conversation with the outer world to begin a dialogue with the inner one. When the human being becomes silent, the universe begins to speak.
4. The Fast of the Ears
The fast of the ears is to recognize that every sound shapes the soul — and to listen with awareness.
It is closing the doors to gossip, negativity, and the noise that distances one from truth; becoming “deaf” to voices that cloud the heart. Instead, one attunes to melodies that nourish the spirit — the sound of wisdom, heartfelt conversations, the breath of the ney, and the silent remembrance woven into creation itself. Through this fast, the ear becomes tuned to the subtle frequency of the Divine call that whispers, “Listen.”
5. The Fast of the Heart: Purifying the House of God
This is the deepest and most subtle fast, for the heart is the place where the Divine manifests.
It is allowing nothing other than the Divine to settle within the heart — not the hunger for status, attachment to possessions, anxiety about the future, nor the illusion of ego. It is keeping the heart awake and present with every breath.
If the fast of the heart is broken, all other fasts remain merely forms of restraint. At this station, a person no longer simply observes fasting; they themselves become fasting — a living state of presence and remembrance.
As you can see, according to the Sufis, fasting is not merely leaving the stomach hungry; it is a journey of purification through which the entire being is disciplined and refined. Ideally, this awareness should be carried in every moment of life and throughout every month of the year. Yet Ramadan offers a unique opportunity to deepen this consciousness and to live our intentions with greater clarity and devotion. May every sincere effort, every small step taken, and every beautiful intention carried within the heart be seen in the Divine presence and returned in the most beautiful way.
(Ramadan / 2026 / Hakan Mengüç)
