Pillar 4 / 5

Sawm

The fast of Ramadan

الصَّوْم

Summary

To fast from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.

Obligatory throughout the month of Ramadan (9th lunar month).
Abstain from food, drink and marital relations from Fajr to Maghrib.
Preceded by suḥūr (pre-dawn meal) and broken with ifṭār.
Month of the Qur'an, generosity and night prayer (Tarāwīḥ).

« O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous. »
— Sourate Al-Baqara 2:183

Conditions and exemptions

Fasting is obligatory upon every pubescent, sane, able, resident Muslim. The sick, traveller, pregnant or nursing woman, and women in menses or post-natal bleeding are temporarily exempt and make up the missed days. The elderly or chronically ill pay an expiation (fidya) by feeding a needy person per day.

What invalidates the fast

To be avoided during the day:

1.Eating or drinking intentionally
2.Marital relations
3.Inducing vomiting
4.Onset of menses or post-natal bleeding
5.Anything that breaks the state of Islam (apostasy)

Recommended supererogatory fasts

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged several optional fasts:

1.Mondays and Thursdays
2.The three white days of each lunar month (13, 14, 15)
3.The day of ʿArafa (9 Dhū al-Ḥijja) for non-pilgrims
4.The day of ʿĀshūrāʾ (10 Muḥarram) with the 9th or 11th
5.Six days of Shawwāl after Ramadan

The wisdom of fasting

Sawm purifies the soul (taqwā), teaches self-mastery, patience and empathy for the needy. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.' (Bukhārī)

Laylat al-Qadr

The Night of Decree, in the last ten nights of Ramadan, is 'better than a thousand months' (Sūrat Al-Qadr 97:3). Believers intensify prayer and supplication in its pursuit.

Prophetic ḥadīths

« Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need for him to give up his food and drink. »
— Bukhārī

« The fasting person has two joys: a joy at his breaking of the fast and a joy upon meeting his Lord. »
— Bukhārī & Muslim

Views of the legal schools

Overview of the main positions (madhāhib) on certain aspects.

Tarāwīḥ

Mālikīs and Ḥanbalīs: 20 rakaʿāt; Imam Mālik's Medinan practice: 36; many contemporary scholars: 8 + 3 Witr following the prophetic practice narrated by ʿĀʾisha.

Vue de la lune

Divergence between local naked-eye sighting (ru'ya) and astronomical calculation; the four classical schools favour ru'ya.