Sawm\\Fasting In Islam

Sawm\Fasting in Islam

Sawm (Arabic: صوم) is an Arabic word for fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. Literally, Sawm means ‘to abstain’. In the terminology of Islamic law, Sawm means ‘to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse: with the conditions that one abstains continuously from dawn to sunset, and that there is an intention to fast.’ Therefore, should one eat or drink anything even a minute before sunset, the fast will not be valid. Similarly, if one abstained from all these things throughout the day but made no intention to fast, there will be no fast here too. The observance of sawm during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, but is not confined to that month.

Etymology

Sawm is derived from Syriac: ܨܘܡܐ ṣawma. Literally, it means "to abstain", cognates to Hebrew tsom.

Other Names

For example, the Muslims of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Bangladesh, and Pakistan use the word rozah which comes from the Indo-Iranian language of Dari. In Turkey, Sawm is called oruç (compare Kyrgyz öröz), while the Malay community in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore call it puasa, which is derived from Sanskrit, upvaasa. Puasa is also used in Indonesia, Southern Thailand and Southern Philippines. Interestingly, the word is also found in the Maltese language.

What is Sawm?

Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual intercourse from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). Fasting is essentially an attempt to seek nearness to ALLAH and increase one's piety. One of the remote aims of fasting is to sympathize with those less fortunate ones who do not always have food and drink readily available. Also one must try to avoid cursing and thinking evil thoughts. Fasting is also viewed as a means of controlling one's desires (Of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger) and focusing more on devoting oneself to God.
Sawm also carries a significant spiritual meaning. It teaches one the principle of love: because when one observes Fasting, it is done out of deep love for God.

Sawm in View of Quran and Hadith

In the view of Quran

ALLAH Said in Sura Al-Baqarah, Ayat No 183

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

اے ایمان والو! تم پر روزے فرض کیے گئے جیسے اگلوں پر فرض ہوئے تھے کہ کہیں تمہیں پرہیزگاری ملے

O People who Believe! Fasting is made compulsory for you, like it was ordained for those before you, so that you may attain piety.

Again in Sura Al-Baqara, Ayat No 185 ALLAH Said

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

رمضان کا مہینہ جس میں قرآن اترا لوگوں کے لئے ہدایت اور رہنمائی اور فیصلہ کی روشن باتیں تو تم میں جو کوئی یہ مہینہ پائے، ضرور اس کے روزے رکھے اور جو بیمار یا سفر میں ہو تو اتنے روزے اور دنوں میں اللہ تم پر آسانی چاہتا ہے اور تم پر دشواری نہیں چاہتا اور اس لئے کہ تم گنتی پوری کرو اور اللہ کی بڑائی بولو اس پر کہ اس نے تمہیں ہدایت کی اور کہیں تم حق گزار ہو

The month of Ramadan in which was sent down the Qur’an – the guidance for mankind, the direction and the clear criteria (To judge between right and wrong); so whoever among you witnesses this month, must fast for the (Whole) month; and whoever is sick or on a journey, may fast the same number in other days; ALLAH desires ease for you and does not desire hardship for you – so that you complete the count (Of fasts), and glorify ALLAH’s greatness for having guided you, and so that you may be grateful.

In the view of Hadith

Sawm as a Pillar of Islam

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but ALLAH and Muhammad is ALLAH's Messenger.
To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Iman, Hadith Number 8, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Fasting in the Eyes of ALLAH

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of ALLAH than the smell of musk. (ALLAH says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Sawm, Hadith Number 1894, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Reward of Fasting

Narrated Abu Huraira (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

ALLAH said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of ALLAH than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Sawm, Hadith Number 1904, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Gate of Paradise

Narrated Sahl (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Sawm, Hadith Number 1896, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

What Fasting Is?

Narrated Abu Huraira (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, ALLAH is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. ALLAH will not accept his fasting).

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Sawm, Hadith Number 1903, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Protection from Hell

Narrated Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

Whoever fasts one day in the cause of ALLAH, ALLAH will keep the Fire away from his face the distance of seventy autumns (years) for that day.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab Al-Siyam, Hadith Number 1717, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Reward for opening fast of others

Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (ALLAH Bless With Him): Messenger of ALLAH (Peace Be Upon Him) said

Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab Al-Siyam, Hadith Number 1746, Classification of Hadith: Sahih)

Days For Fasting

Obligatory

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered Fard (obligatory).

Days for Voluntary Fasting

Islam also prescribed certain days for non-obligatory,voluntary fasting, such as:

Each Monday and Thursday of a week
The 13th, 14th, and 15th day of each lunar month
Six days in the month of Shawwal (The month following Ramadan)
The Day of Arafat [9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar]
The Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram in the Hijri calendar), with one more day of fasting before or after it.
As often as possible in the months of Rajab and Shaban before Ramadhan.
First ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar.

Days when fasting is forbidden

Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Fitr
It is also forbidden to single out Fridays and only fast every Friday,As Amr Al-Ashari said that he heard Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) say "Verily, Friday is a eid (Holiday) for you, so do not fast on it unless you fast the day before or after it."
Fasting everyday of the year is also forbidden; Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) "There is no reward for fasting for the one who perpetually fasts."

Who should fast and Who should not?

Who Must Fast?

Fasting Ramadan is compulsory upon every Muslim, male or female, who has these qualifications:

To be mentally and physically fit, which means to be sane and able.
To be of full age, the age of puberty and discretion, which is normally about fourteen. Children under this age should be encouraged to start this good practice on easy levels, so when they reach the age of puberty they will be mentally and physically prepared to observe fasting.
To be present at one's permanent settlement, your home town, one's farm, and one's business premises, etc. This means not to be on a journey of about fifty miles or more.
To be fairly certain that fasting is unlikely to cause you any harm, physical or mental, other than the normal reactions to hunger, thirst, etc.

Exemption from Fasting

These said qualifications exclude the following categories:

Children under the age of puberty and discretion.
Insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds. People of these two categories are exempted from the duty of fist, and no compensation or any other substitute is enjoined on them.
Men OR women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fast and bear its hardships. Such people are exempted from this duty, but they must offer, at least, one needy poor Muslim an average full meal or its value per person per day.
Sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by the observance of fast. They may postpone the fast, as long as they are sick, to a later date and make up for it, a day for a day.But permanent sick people can not make up for it day to day like diabetes patients.
Travelers may break the fast temporarily during their travel only and make up for it in later days, a day for a day.
Pregnant women and women breast-feeding their children may also break the fast, if its observance is likely to endanger their own health or that of their infants. But they must make up for the fast at a delayed time, a day for a day.

Actions that Can Break, Not Break, and Makrooh The Fast

Action that Can Break The Fast

By eating, drinking or having intercourse breaks the fast when you are aware that you are fasting and if you forget that you were fasting and eat or drank or had intercourse, then the fast will not break.
The fast will break if you smoked a cigarette or other form of smoke inhalation or cigar etc.
The fast also breaks by eating a paan or tobacco, even if you spit out the contents.
If you put sugar, sweet, chewing gum or any item in your mouth which dissolves and you swallow the taste then the fast will break.
If there was something stuck in your teeth the same size or larger than a chick pea and you swallowed it or it was smaller than a chick pea and you took it out of your mouth and then swallowed it again then the fast will break.
If your gums bled and the blood was more or equal to your saliva and went down your throat or was less than the saliva and it went down your throat and you could taste it then the fast will break. If the blood was less than the saliva and you couldn't feel the taste and it went down your throat, then the Roza will not break.
If a syringe is used or medicine is put up your nostrils or oil or medicine is put inside the ears then the fast will break, however, if water is put into or goes into the ears then the fast will not break.
If you were cleaning your mouth out or was cleaning your nostrils and water went down your throat by mistake or went up too far in your nostrils that it went in your mouth canal even by mistake then the fast will break, if however, you forgot that you were fasting then the fast will not break.
If you drank water or eat something whilst you were sleeping or your mouth was open and water went down your throat or snow went down your throat then the fast will break.
To swallow someone else's saliva or to take your own saliva in your hand and then swallowing it will break the fast.
If tears went into the mouth and it was only a drop or two then the fast will not break and if it is more and the taste is felt in the whole mouth then the fast will break, the same rule applies to sweat.
If a man kissed a woman or touched her or hugged her or copulated with her or embraced her and then ejaculated the fast would break and if the woman touched a man and the man ejaculated then the fast would not break. If a man touches a woman on her clothing and her clothing is so thick that the body warmth cannot be felt then the fast will not break even if he ejaculates.
If the private parts are cleaned with excessive force upto the extent that the water reached upto the place where the suppository is kept then the fast will break and one should refrain from using too much force as there is a chance of illness.If a man put oil or water down the hole of his penis then the fast will not break even if the liquid reaches the bottom. If a woman put water or oil into her vagina then her fast will break.
If a woman put cotton or a cloth in her vagina and it does not stay completely on the outside then the fast will break. If someone puts a dry finger up the anus or a woman put a dry finger inside her vagina then the fast will not break and if the finger is wet or something is on it then the fast will break when the finger reaches the part where the point of the suppository goes.
If a mouthful vomit is done purposely and you are aware that you are fasting then the fast will break and if small amounts are vomited then the fast will not break.If vomit occurs on it's own without control then whether, it be a small amount or large the fast will not break.
The rule of vomit applies when the vomit consists of food or liquid or blood, if the vomit consists of just phlegm then the fast will not break regardless of situation.

Acts that Do Not Break The Fast

If you eat, drink or have sexual intercourse by mistake then the fast does not break.
If a fly, smoke or dust goes down the throat then the fast does not break, however, if you purposely inhaled smoke then the fast will break if you know that you are fasting. For example, incense, loban was lighted and was brought near the mouth and the smoke was sucked up the nose, then the fast will break.
If you apply oil or lotion or surma on the body or eyes then the fast will not break and if the taste of the oil or surma is felt in the throat or if the saliva is coloured due to the surma then the fast will still not break.
If a fly goes down the throat then the fast will not break and if it is deliberately swallowed then the fast will break.If whilst talking the lips got wet or you cleared your throat and then drank the saliva, then the fast will not break but you should refrain from doing this.
If your gums bled and the blood reached the throat but did not go down it, then the fast will not break.
If you were eating by mistake and as soon as you remembered you spat out the food then the fast will not break and if you swallowed the food then the fast will break.
You started eating (sehri) before the break of dawn and whilst you were eating you saw that the morning had broken and you spat out the food in your mouth then the fast will not break and if you swallowed the food then the fast will break.
If you chewed a linseed or something of equivalent size and it went down the throat with your saiiva then the fast will not break, if however, you felt the taste of it then the fast will break.
If medicine is grounded or flour is sieved and you felt the taste in your throat then the fast will not break.
If water went inside the ears then the fast will not break.
If you talked badly about someone behind their back then the fast will not break, however to backbite is a very large sin. It is stated in the Holy Quran that to backbite is the same as eating the flesh of one's dead brother, it is quoted in the Hadith Sharif that backbiting is worse than adultery and by backbiting the light (Moor) of fasting will disappear.
If you kissed but did not ejaculate then the fast does not break, and in the same way you looked at a woman or her private parts but did not touch her and ejaculated or reached orgasm even though you looked many times or you thought about intercourse for a long time or kept on thinking about sexual activities and then ejaculated, then in all these situations the fast will not break.
If you had a wet dream (nocturnal emission) then the fast will not break.
If you remained in a state where bathing is obligatory (Junub) until the morning, in fact remained like that all day then the fast will not break, however to remain like that so that you miss a Namaz is Haram and it is quoted in the Hadith Sharif that where there is a Junub person in a house the angels of mercy do not enter the house.If you had intercourse in any other hole except for the two passages below then unless you ejaculate the fast will not break. Also, if you masturbated but did not ejaculate then the fast does not break although this act is strictly Haram and it is stated in the Hadith that those who do this are not with me (Holy Prophet).

Acts that Make The Fast Makrooh

To lie, backbite, tell-tale, to swear, talk shamelessly, to cause someone harm are all Haram acts anyway, but to do these acts whilst fasting are even more Haram and because of this the fast become Makrooh.
For a fasting person to taste or chew something without reason then the fast becomes Makrooh. The acceptable reason is when a husband or master is very short tempered and due to there being less salt will cause him disappointment then to taste (but not swallow) will not make the fast Makrooh. Another reason is when there is a small child or elderly or disabled person who cannot chew a chappati or bread and there is no other person available who is not fasting then the fast will not become Makrooh.

Breaking oaths and the consequences

During Ramadan, one who fasts and breaks the oath out of forgetfulness must nevertheless continue, since the fast will remain valid.
However if one intentionally breaks the fast, for example by eating, a set of kaffarah (expiation) shall apply. These exist in three forms, of which the person must choose one:

Free slave
Fasting for an extra 60 consecutive days
Feeding and/or clothing 60 people in need

During voluntary fasts, if one unintentionally breaks the fast then they may continue for the rest of the day and the fast remains valid. If one intentionally breaks the fast there is no sin on them because it is voluntary. If an oath is given and circumstances dictate that it must be broken (or if the one giving the oath deliberately breaks it), one must offer expiation (kaffara) by freeing a slave and if that is not possible, feed and/or cloth 10 poor people and if that cannot be done because due to lack of financial means or poor people cannot be found, fast for three consecutive days.
The penalties are harsher during Ramadan because all mentally able Muslims are expected to have an increased awareness of the fast at that time.
Please contact your nearest imam regarding penalties of breaking fast.

Health Benefits of Fasting

Finding relief from a variety of health disorders may no doubt begin my making lifestyle changes. Supervised fasting for a stipulated period helps patients make those required changes in their life that will positively influence their health.
Fasting is a blessing to overcome addictions - to caffeine, nicotine, drugs, smoking and alcohol. Fasting helps lower withdrawal symptoms, which commonly deter people from overcoming addictions.
Fasting helps lower cholesterol.
Fasting works wonders in alleviating disorders of the gastrointestinal system like constipation, bloating, and gastritis.
A supervised fasting program is a boon to diabetics to make crucial lifestyle and diet changes, sacrosanct to effective treatment of the condition.
Fasting improves mental alertness - when toxins are cleared out of the lymphatic system and blood stream, it improves mental clarity. Further, eating less results in energy conservation, which can be used by the brain for thinking tasks.
Fasting is simply a process of deep physiological rest. This rest period helps you rebuild functioning power and recover from the energy dissipation caused by hectic daily schedules and abusive living habits.

(Frank Sabatino, D.C., Ph.D.)
Briefly, a fast could result in:-

Weight loss
Improved mental clarity
Improved breathing
Improved energy levels
Good skin
Rejuvenated digestive system

Fasting in other religions

Lent in Christianity, Yom Kippur, Tisha B'av, Fast of Esther, Tzom Gedalia the Seventeenth of Tamuz, and the Tenth of Tevet, all in Judaism, are also times of fasting. Nevertheless, the fasting practices are different from one another. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) generally fast for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month. Like Muslims, they refrain from all drinking and eating unless they are children or are physically unable to fast. Fasting is also a feature of ascetic traditions in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Mahayana traditions that follow the Brahma's Net Sutra may recommend that the laity fast "During the six days of fasting each month and the three months of fasting each year".

Fasting related E-Books

30 Lessons for Those Who Fast (English)

70 Matters Related to Fasting (English)

Nature of Fasting (English)