Keeping fasts is a phrase commonly used by people of the Islamic faith to refer to the act of abstaining from food, drink, and other worldly pleasures during the daytime hours of the holy month of Ramadan. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word 'fasts' is spelled /fæsts/, with the 'a' pronounced as a short vowel sound and the 's' at the end pronounced with a voiceless 's' sound. This spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word and helps ensure correct pronunciation when used in conversation.
Keeping fasts refers to the act or practice of voluntarily abstaining from consuming food and/or drink for a specific period of time, often as a religious or spiritual observance. This observance is commonly observed in various faith traditions and cultures around the world, including but not limited to religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
The purpose of keeping fasts varies depending on the specific religious or spiritual belief system. It can serve as a form of purification, self-discipline, and self-control, allowing individuals to focus on spiritual growth and reflection. Fasting is often considered a means of demonstrating devotion and obedience to a higher power, as well as a way to empathize with those who may suffer from hunger and poverty.
During a fast, individuals typically abstain from consuming any food or drink, or may limit their intake to specific items, like water or juice. Some fasts may require complete abstinence from food and drink for a specific duration, while others may allow for limited intake during certain hours of the day. Fasts can vary in duration, from a few hours or days to several weeks, depending on the religious or cultural practices being followed.
Fasting often involves following certain guidelines, rituals, or traditions established by the religious or spiritual community. These may include specific times or dates for fasting, as well as additional practices such as prayer, meditation, and acts of charity. Keeping fasts can be seen as a way to cultivate discipline, strengthen one's faith, and deepen spiritual connection.
The phrase "keeping fasts" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two separate words. However, we can look at the origins of these words individually.
The word "keeping" comes from the Old English word "cepian", which means "to observe" or "to take care of". It has gone through various changes over time to become the modern "keeping", which means "to maintain" or "to continue".
The word "fast" can be traced back to the Old English word "fæsten", which means "to abstain from food". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "fastina", which has similar meanings across different Germanic languages.
When the words "keeping" and "fasts" are used together, it refers to the act of observing periods of abstinence from food, often for religious or spiritual reasons.