Page 64 - https://ia800806.us.archive.org/12/items/mwk-eng-book/Leading-a-Spiritual-Life.pdf

The Culture of Self-Restraint

the culture of self-control in society and indicates to
others through his actions that they should follow the
path that he is following. Thus, the way of self-control
leads to a better society, while lack of self-control in
individuals leads to the destruction of peace. As far
as the individual is concerned, self-control serves as a
means of personality development. This way of life, in
turn, saves others from unnecessary problems.
There is a ‘pre-control’ for exercising self-control,
and that is, thinking. When a person adopts a life of
self-control, at all times he first thinks about what path
he should tread. Only after considerable thought, does
he plan out his course of action. A life lived in this
way will necessarily be marked by creative thinking. In
addition, self-control contributes to one’s intellectual
development and turns one into a man of wisdom.

In Islam, fasting is worship. And worship is for God.
But fasting is the kind of worship which at one and
the same time is for the sake of God and for the sake
of man. Thus, if fasting is observed in the right spirit,
in all sincerity, it will make an individual pious and
responsible.

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