Do Christians fast? Why don't they do it the same way Muslims do?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Jesus fasted, and many Christians today do the same. Unlike Muslim fasting, times of the day, week, or year are not prescribed for Christians to fast. However, Christians do fast for specific purposes, such as seeking God’s wisdom in a specific situation (Acts 13:1–5; 14:23; 27:9). Regardless of the reason for fasting, we are to do so from a place of humility (Matthew 6:16–18). Since many Christians are not vocal about when they fast, some Muslims wonder if they fast at all, since in the Islamic religion, it is known by all when to fast and for how long. One of the foundational differences between Christian fasting and Muslim fasting is the purpose behind it. Muslims tend to fast as a way to secure rewards or an eternal destination, but from a Christian’s perspective, salvation is by faith in Jesus alone, and no amount of fasting will make us more deserving of God’s generous gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9). Once a Christian’s identity has been changed into a child of God, our eternal destination with Him is permanently secured.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Joel 2:12–13 calls God’s people to return to Him with fasting, repentance, and prayer, showing fasting as a response to repentance and seeking God’s mercy.
• Ezra proclaims a fast to seek God’s protection and guidance on a difficult journey, illustrating fasting as a way to humble oneself and seek God’s help (Ezra 8:21–23).
• Nehemiah fasted and prayed when he heard about Jerusalem’s destruction, demonstrating fasting as a way to express grief and intercede for God’s people (Nehemiah 1:4).
• The psalmist describes fasting as a humble act of affliction in times of distress or injustice (Psalm 35:13).
• Queen Esther asks the Jews to fast for three days for God’s intervention before she approaches the king, showing fasting as preparation for urgent spiritual action (Esther 4:16). None of these times of fasting were prescriptive or had to do with earning God’s favor.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus once fasted from food for 40 days (Matthew 4). Although not all Christian fasting exclusively involves food, many Christians take after the example of Jesus and fast from food (or certain foods) for a set duration of time. This type of fasting can be done on any day—unlike Muslim fasting that is done during certain times of the day or on specific days of the week/month/year.
• Christians are taught to fast without drawing attention to themselves. Jesus said, "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:16–18). It is not wrong for a Christian to tell someone that he or she is fasting. However, it is important that this act of fasting is done in humility and deference for God, not for the attention of others. Since Christians are often quiet about fasting, some Muslims may question if they fast at all.
• Early Christians often fasted during special times of prayer (Acts 13:1–5; 14:23; 27:9), and some Christians today still follow this practice. Such reasoning behind fasting greatly differs from why Muslims fast. Islam promises exceptional rewards for Muslims who observe optional fasts on Monday and Thursday of each week, the three days each month when the moon is full, on the Day of Ashura and either the day before or the day after it, during Hajj (Sura 2:196), and other occasions.
• One of the core differences between Christian fasting and Muslim fasting is that Christians do not fast in order to earn their salvation. According to Muslim beliefs, not fasting during Ramadan can compromise a person's ability to be with Allah in Paradise, but in Christianity, fasting has nothing to do with whether we spend eternity with God. Salvation is based on faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Fasting at daylight hours during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is considered to be of great importance. As such, some Muslims wonder why Christians don't seem to fast, or don’t fast in the same way. Though Christians occasionally fast in community, many fast on an individual basis. Additionally, rather than follow a set fasting schedule, many Christians fast in response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit or in conjunction with life circumstances. Jesus, the early church's leaders, early Christians, and Christians throughout the history of the church have fasted as a spiritual practice. Though there are some Christians that do not fast due to various reasons, it remains an important spiritual discipline for many Christians today.

UNDERSTAND

• Christians fast as a personal, Spirit-led practice to seek God, not to earn salvation or rewards like in Islam.
• Fasting in Christianity is flexible in timing and done humbly, unlike the set fasting periods in Islam.
• Biblical fasting focuses on repentance, guidance, and spiritual growth, not on ritual obligation.

REFLECT

• How do you understand the value of the spiritual practice of fasting?
• How do you prepare yourself to depend on God in your times of fasting?
• How does your fasting help you grow closer to God or seek His guidance in your life?

ENGAGE

• How does Christian fasting differ from Muslim fasting in purpose and practice, and what does this say about each faith’s view of salvation?
• Why do you think many Christians choose to fast privately, rather than publicly, and how does this reflect Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 6?
• How can fasting help believers respond to life’s challenges or decisions with greater spiritual clarity and dependence on God?