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Sawm
(Fasting)
Fasting is a kind of worship for achieving self-discipline
and self-cleansing, in which Muslims abstain from
Halal (Lawful)
things also such as all types of eatables, temptations,
wrong-doings and sexual indulgence with their spouces from
dawn to dusk.
Muslims are enjoined to observe month long fasting in
the month of Ramadan (9th
month of Islamic calendar).
Arabic
word for fasting is Sawm.
Sawm means to stop oneself from
something.
While observing Sawm (Fasting),
Muslims stop themselves from eating, drinking, smoking
and having sexual intercourse with their spouses. The requirement
of Sawm (Fasting)
is not only to go hungry and thirsty during the day. The
basic requirement of Sawm (Fasting)
is total abstention and shielding from all sorts of evils
and vices. Sawm (Fasting)
requires a total cleansing of the body and mind.
While observing Sawm (Fasting),
Muslims abstain from food, water, sexual desires,
loose talk, lies, backbiting, unfair dealings and any other
bad acts or desires.
Sawm (Fasting)
helps in staying away from everything that is disliked by
Allah (God).
Abu
Hurayrah R narrated: The Prophet S 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
Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127
Sawm (Fasting)
is one of the traditionally mentioned five pillars of Islam,
and an important and integral form of Islamic ‘Ibadah
(Worship). Allah
(God) had ordained fasting for the
followers of other religions like the Jews and the
Christians also, before Islam.
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"O
You who believe! Fasting is enjoined upon you in the
same way as it was enjoined upon others before you so
that you may become pious."
Surah (Chapter)
al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:183 |
At
present, fasting among the Jews and the Christians
has been left as a symbolic gesture only.
Muslims observe Sawm (Fasting)
from dawn to dusk, for one complete month, every year. The
month of fasting is known as Ramadan
and it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Sawm
(Fasting) is made obligatory
by Allah (God) during the month of Ramadan.
Besides increases Taqwa (Fear
of Allah, Righteousness), Sawm
(Fasting) also shields Muslims
from evil acts. It gives them a total control over their
desires.
Abu
Hurayrah R narrated: Allah's Apostle S 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 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
Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 118 |
Every
Muslim must observe fasting for one complete month every
year.
Month of Ramadan has a special significance
because the revelation of the Holy Qur-an
began in this month, when the Messenger of Allah,
Muhammad S received the very first Wahi
(Message from Allah).
Qur-an specifies the month in which fasts
are to be observed.
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"The
month of Ramadan in which was revealed the
Qur-an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs
for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of
you sights the moon, he must observe fast in that
month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same
number (of days which one did not observe fast, must
be made up) from other days. Allah intends
for you ease, and He does not want to make things
difficult for you. He wants that you must complete
the same number of days, and that you must magnify
Allah for having guided you so that you may
be grateful to Him."
Surah (Chapter)
Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
Qur-an 2:185 |
Missing a fast without any serious sickness or a valid reason
is a grave sin.
Allah (God) has created
human beings for the purpose of His worship by performing
acts that please Him. Humans are Khalifah
(Representative) of Allah
(God) in this world. They must try
their best to reflect good. Self discipline and self-control
is essential for the Islamic way of life. Fasting not only
disciplines a person but also inculcates self-control in
that person.
There are many people in this world that end up wasting
more food in a party than many could afford in an entire
year. Such people do not have any understanding of the problems
of the poor or the needy. They cannot comprehend the feelings
of the needy and poor, because they have never undergone
the same type of pain due to hunger and thirst.
The more fortunate have understand and be more considerate
to the needy, if they, themselves were to go through some
of the circumstances that these people have to pass through
every day. He made fasting obligatory so that everyone should
feel hunger and thirst so that whenever one comes across
a hungry or thirsty person, one should have at least some
sympathy for them. This
was the philosophy behind fasting to which Allah
refers in His Book in the following words:
"Perhaps you may become pious."
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"O
You who believe! Fasting is enjoined upon you in the
same way as it was enjoined upon others before you so
that you may become pious."
Surah (Chapter)
al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:183 |
The Arabic word Tattaqun means to inculcate
the habit of fear in oneself of the consequences of the
Hereafter, and become a perfect human being. It means that
everyone should always have the consequences of one’s dealing
before one’s eyes. As one will sow, so one shall reap. If
today, we have ignored the hunger and thirst of a needy
and poor despite resources, there will certainly come one
day when we shall be totally ignored.
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