Islam the way of life

Fasting (Sawm)

The act and meaning of Sawm

Sawm is day-time-fasting during the Islamic lunar month of Ramadhan, each year. Sawm literally means to abstain or keep yourself away from something.

The month of Ramadhan

The month of Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, and lasts for 29 or 30 days, its beginning and ending both being dependent upon the sighting of the new moon. Muslims should remember, with gratefulness and reverence, this month as a holy month in which the first verses of Qur'an were revealed.

Muslims are encouraged to make a special effort to be generous in charity and to do many good deeds, extra prayers, and reading and reflecting on the Qur’an during Ramadhan, as the reward and blessings from God for these are greater during this month than at other times.

The act of fasting

Fasting is to refrain from eating, drinking, or having conjugal relations during daylight hours. During the night these activities are all allowed. There is no specified limit to these, but the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was moderation, especially during Ramadhan. The benefits of fasting may not be felt very much if we go to the opposite extreme at night.
Fasting, more importantly, is also making a special effort to restrain yourself from un-Islamic or harmful uses of the tongue, ears, eyes, and other parts of the body. This takes the form of, for example, not indulging in falsehood, but speaking only the truth; not expressing anger or quarrelling, but holding in, channelling positively, and diffusing anger, trying to be patient and making peace; not speaking ill of others, but speaking well of them; not speaking about shameful things but instead focusing upon uplifting subjects which remind people of God and bring them closer to Him, and to each other. As Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed, it is also a month when people try to read the whole of the Qur’an in the mosques, during special evening prayers, as was the practice of the Prophet. At home, Muslims try to read more Qur’an than usual.

The way that fasting is carried out

It is recommended to have a moderate meal, finishing just before dawn, and then pray the dawn prayer (Fajr or Subh). The intention to fast is made before dawn, and before fasting begins. When first breaking or finishing the day's fast, a prayer of gratefulness to God is said, as well as other optional supplications. It is recommended to eat only a small, odd number of dates, and water or milk. After this small snack, Muslims usually pray the sunset prayer (Maghrib), and then eat a moderate evening meal.

Who must fast?

Fasting in Ramadhan, as described, is compulsory on all Muslims who are not too young, too old and frail, too weak or sick, pregnant, breast-feeding, menstruating or bleeding after child-birth, or travelling long distances. If a Muslim falls into one of these categories, they either do not have to, or may not fast. Children, for example should not fast when they are growing rapidly as they need a lot of food, but when they get to around 7 they may try fasting for half a day at a time, on days spent at home, then gradually increase the amount of days and length of time fasted each year according to their ability, until they reach adolescence when they are expected to fast more like an adult. If a person fasts and starts to feel too ill or weak, they should stop and eat and drink. If they are not in these categories, and become able to fast, they should fast to make up for days missed. If they cannot make up the days, then for each day missed, they have to compensate by feeding someone poor and needy one day’s food for each day missed.

The benefits of fasting

Firstly, the reason why a Muslim fasts should be to draw nearer to God, and therefore receive reward and blessings from God in this life and the Hereafter.
Through fasting comes self-discipline. This means that the ability to withstand deprivation patiently can be increased. It also helps us to become less attached to, and more in control of our bad habits and ultimately to get rid of them, whether these are addictions to something harmful and/or sinful e.g. cigarettes; wrong ways of speaking or acting, e.g. swearing or gossiping; or a tendency towards bad attitudes e.g. arrogance. The soul therefore becomes more free, and it becomes easier to develop good habits, and to be more generous and kind. At the same time, through fasting and reflecting on the experience, sympathy with others who have less and who have difficulties can grow, so that there is increased motivation to be generous in giving regular, voluntary charity (Sadaqah).

This is brought to its highest level through a strengthening and sensitising of the soul in terms of the depth of its faith and God-consciousness, if your time is used in prayer, in reflection, and other ways of remembering God, and in consciously making a special effort to do good and keep away from mistakes, and injustice.

Ramadhan is a time when the Muslim community comes together, by fasting together, starting and finishing each day’s fast together, praying together, and generally helping each other as much as possible. The feeling of brotherhood can therefore be increased as a result of Ramadhan. Also, the feeling of sympathy for all others in suffering, and the increased effort made to help others (not necessarily Muslims) can give the Muslims a greater feeling of oneness with humanity in general.

Relationships and society at large will benefit from greater generosity in giving charity, as described when discussing Charity (Zakah and Sadaqah).

There can also be physical benefits to the body and brain. These include giving the stomach and digestive system a rest from digesting food. This helps to normalise the body’s metabolism (Allan Cott, 1975). The stomach should shrink, if less food is eaten at meals in the evening, so that there is less hunger, and less tendency to eat more than the body needs. Voluntary, self-controlled, gradual weight loss which can be achieved through the moderate fasting method of Islam helps people to lose weight effectively and permanently, unlike severe and rapid weight loss (Athar, S., 1993). Fasting of this type should, therefore help to prevent the ailments and suffering associated with obesity, such as heart disease. Also during Ramadhan, although lower than normal at the beginning, people’s blood sugar level rises above normal levels after the first ten days (Athar, S., 1993), making people feel more energetic and mentally alert. Four weeks after Ramadhan, blood sugar level returns to normal basal levels days (Athar, S., 1993).