SAWM, or SIYAM (Fasting)

ABOUT THE FAST

1. In Ramadan, (the 9th month of the lunar Islamic year10) Muslims fast in obedience
to Allah’s command and in gratitude for Allah’s Grace for revealing His Glorious
Book, The Qur’an, in Ramadan.

2. Sawm (Fasting) is to abstain from eating, drinking and intimate intercourse from
dawn to sunset.

3. If sick or on a journey, a Muslim is permitted to break his fast.

4. If he breaks the fast, he has to make it up by fasting a number of days equal to the
days in which he broke fasting in Ramadan.

5. After the end of Ramadan comes “Eid al-Fitr” (the Holy day of Breaking the Fast)
which is the 1st day of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan.

6. On the Eid morning, all Muslims congregate, in open grounds or in mosques, to
perform “ Eid Prayer” to express their happiness and gratitude to Allah for enabling
them to complete this duty of Fasting.

7. Concerning this important duty, Allah says: “O you who believe. Fasting is
prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may
(observe) piety and self-restraint” [The Qur’an 2:183]

8. Also, He says: “Ramadan is the month in which was sent down The Qur’an,
as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement
(between right and wrong). So, every one of you who is present (at his
home, village, or town) during that month should fast it, but if any one is ill,
or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by other
days”. [The Qur’an 2:185].

WHY WE FAST

1. We fast in obedience to Allah’s command, and because Allah loves those who fast.

2. To show our gratitude to Allah’s Grace of sending down His Guidance, The
Qur’an, to guide us and the whole humanity.

3. To thank Allah for making us of those who believe in The Qur’an.

4. And because He enabled us to memorize His Book, to recite it, to study and
understand it, and to benefit in its guidance.

5. To develop control on our material desires Allah planted in our nature.

6. To control ourselves in front of all things prohibited by Allah.

7. Fasting makes us remember the needy who suffer from hunger and deprivation.
Hence, to become more sympathetic to them and help them with part of what Allah has bestowed upon us.

8. To check our engrossment in our desires, and increase our care for our spiritual
entity through intensifying our deeds and acts of worship in this month of The
Qur’an.

9. To increase our share of sincerity, consience, patience, discipline, as well as many healthful benefits.
10. Above all these, the great reward Allah promised to give us on the Last Day.