Embrace the hardship that leads to ease [2:185]

One of the verses that talks about fasting in the Quran is verse 185 of Chapter 2, Suratul Baqara.

After talking about the month of Ramadan where the Quran was revealed and fasting prescribed, Allah [swt] says:

يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

[2:185] Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.

This verse is so interesting for many reasons. Let us explore two aspects of this verse today:

1. After prescribing fasting, Allah says that He desires ease for us

2. That you should keep fasting until you complete the month of Ramadan

For those of us who find fasting extremely challenging, the question might come up, "if He desires ease, why deprive us of food and water?" and "that too for a whole month"? How is this ease when it feels so challenging?

 Fasting, the way it is prescribed in Islam, is undeniably difficult. Waking up before dawn, abstaining from food and water for long hours, maintaining patience despite exhaustion—how do we reconcile this difficulty with Allah’s promise of ease?

The answer lies in understanding what true ease really is.

In our modern world, ease is often mistaken for comfort. But in reality, ease is the result of rigorous training, not the absence of struggle. The discipline of Ramadan is not meant to burden us—it is designed to strengthen us.

Hardship Before Ease: A Spiritual and Psychological Law

Allah has created and placed certain unchangeable principles in the world. Just as gravity pulls objects downward and fire burns, there is a spiritual law at play in our lives:

Ease is earned through hardship.

This principle is not exclusive to spirituality. It is a well-documented principle in psychology and in human behavior.

Research confirms that enduring short-term discomfort leads to long-term ease. This is seen in:

• The Marshmallow Experiment(Walter Mischel, 1970s): Children who delayed gratification (waiting for two marshmallows instead of eating one immediately) showed better self-control and success later in life.
• Resilience Studies: People who voluntarily endure hardship (such as fasting, exercise, or disciplined habits) develop greater emotional regulation, patience, and stress tolerance.
• Your gym session. You pay to go and lift weights at the gym – weights that are heavy enough to create discomfort – not Styrofoam weights. You do this because the short term discomfort helps you build strength and muscles in the long term.
• Silent meditation retreats.Research shows that these highly demanding retreats where people voluntarily put themselves in a challenging environment of silence and disengagement with the world have many psychological benefits,  neurological benefits and physical benefits. Intentionally withholding comforts of life and communication, in turns out, is really good for us!

Ramadan follows this exact principle.

We are asked to push through difficulty, knowing that it will shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals.

The path to ease is through struggle. The question is: How does this process actually work?

When we think of training, we often think of athletes, soldiers, or students. These individuals push themselves through rigorous training because they understand one truth:

If you embrace difficulty now, you will have ease later.

A boxer endures months of punishing workouts to perform well in the ring. A student sacrifices sleep and leisure to build a successful career. A soldier undergoes grueling drills so that, in the heat of battle, they can function under extreme pressure.

Ramadan is our spiritual boot camp.

Allah puts us through an intensive month of training so that we develop:

Mental Discipline – Resisting hunger and thirst teaches us to resist cravings and other harmful temptations.
Emotional Strength – Controlling anger and frustration strengthens our patience.
Spiritual Endurance – Long prayers, fasting, and sacrifice prepare us for life’s inevitable challenges.

In life we know that nothing worthwhile comes without effort. And the same is true for spiritual strength and elevation.

The Science of Fasting: How Hardship Strengthens the Mind and Body

Modern neuroscience reveals something fascinating: fasting rewires the brain and body for resilience.

1. Enhanced Mental Focus

o   Fasting boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), improving memory, focus, and mood.

o   The brain enters "survival mode," making thinking sharper and more efficient.

2. Strengthened Impulse Control

o   The prefrontal cortex, responsible for self-control, becomes stronger with fasting.

o   This means better decision-making and stronger willpower.

3. Reduced Anxiety & Stress

o   Fasting reduces inflammation, which is linked to anxiety and depression.

o   Lower stress hormones lead to a calmer, more centered mindset.

Science confirms what our faith teaches: temporary hardship builds long-term resilience.

The Paradox of Difficulty

When we avoid discipline, we create more hardship for ourselves. If someone refuses to train physically, they struggle with poor health. If someone never learns to control their emotions, they suffer in relationships.

But when we embrace struggle, we grow stronger and life becomes easier.

Allah gives us this training every year, so that when hardships hit—whether it's financial difficulty, emotional struggles, or loss—we don’t collapse under pressure. We have already built endurance.

This is the real ease that comes from hardship and Ramadan is a reminder that ease is not the absence of difficulty—it is the ability to endure difficulty with strength and faith.
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Wishing you a day full of spiritual fulfillment, positivity, purpose and peace.