Fasting (Sawm)

’O you who have believed! Decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.’’ ²¹
(The Holy Qur’an)

Fasting is refraining from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from the emergence of dawn to sunset with the intention of gaining Allah’s consent. Fasting is among the essential acts of worship like prayer, zakat and hajj, which were commanded to humanity by Allah through prophets.

According to Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is fardh (an obligatory act of worship) upon all Muslims who are sane and reached puberty. Those who are sick or traveler, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may observe Ramadan fasting later, in other words, they can make up (perform qada) for unobserved days. Patients of any age without hope of recovery, and elderly people who are unable to fast give “fidyah” as they cannot make up the missed days in the future. Fidyah is making payment to the needy for each unobserved fasting day for an amount that can meet the daily provision of a person. Those who cannot afford it ask for forgiveness from Allah ^(swt). In the end, Allah is fair, and fidyah is a type of payment that supports the social solidarity, and the value of fasting is too high to be measured with material things.

To fast properly, Muslims should not only fast by their stomachs but also by all parts of their body. Their eyes should see the good and not seek the evil; their ears should hear the good and not listen to the evil; their tongues should speak good words or remain silent; and their hearts should intend for good and refrain from the evil. Unless one abstains from lying, gossiping and cheating, Allah does not need them to stay hungry in the name of fasting.

Fasting disciplines people by keeping them away from extreme desires, wishes and requests of the nafs (human self). It teaches them patience, gratitude, tawakkul (reliance on Allah) and the value of blessings and health. It provides the body with health, the mind with wellness, and the heart with relief. It enables humans to reach the awareness of time by waking up for sahoor, and the abundance of sadaqah (charity) by coming together with the needy ones in iftar tables.

²¹ Baqarah, 2/183.