Fasting ( Sawm )
Observances of Fasting
Introduction of fasting (Refer to page 6 or Textbook Page: 278)
Method/Observance of Fasting
The Niyyah (In heart) before fajar prayer - making intention
Sahoor (meal before dawn)” reference Take Sahoor as there is a blessing in it.”
Fast to be observed from dawn to dusk
Ensuring good acts during fasting by abstaining from evil thoughts, words, actions, and things
which make the fast void. reference whoever does not give up forged speech and evil
actions, Allah does not require his hunger and thirst (i.e Allah will not accept his fasting)
Ensuring punctuality in prayers, spend time in recitation of Quran and making dua.
Acts that Invalidate Fast
 deliberately eating, drinking or smoking
 to keep anything in the mouth that melts, such as sugar
 bleeding from teeth (only if blood goes into the throat and taste is felt)
 swallowing something which is not used as an article of food or drink, or as medicine
 intentional vomiting
 entering of water in the throat while gargling
 marital relations
Sunnah acts


Method of breaking fast: It is sunnah to break the fast right after hearing Azaan with date or
water (as early as possible after sunset). Prophet (SAW) said “If one of you is fasting, he
should break his fast with dates. If dates are not available than with water.” (Ahmed)
Supplications at the time of breaking the fast.
“The thirst is gone; the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed if Allah wills”





Tarawih Prayer: These special prayers involve reading long portions of the Qur'an, as well as
performing from 2 to 20 rakahs after fardh of isha prayer in Ramadan.
Observe Itikaf: A person may commence I‟tikaaf after sunset of 20th of Ramadan, and end it
when the moon for Eid is sighted.
Seeking Layalatut Qadr (night of power): Muslims worship last ten days, to seek Layalatul
Qadr, following Prophet (SAW)‟s sunnah
Another encouraging act in Ramadan is paying zakat to achieve higher rewards in the
blessed month
Revision of Quran is also a sunnah act. Muslims recite and review Quran for higher reward.
Refer to Textbook Page 280-281 for details
Benefits of Fasting
Introduction of Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. It became obligatory in the 2nd year of Hijrah.Fasting is an act
of Ibadah which is obligatory on every sane, healthy adult Muslims. Fasting literally means to
abstain from something to stay away. Fasting in Islam means abstention from food, drink and
marital relations from dawn until sunset with the intention of getting closer to Allah. Allah says,
“Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you
may restrain against sins.” (2:183). It trains a Muslims to sacrifice his wealth, his time, his
physical and mental energies and his comforts in the way of Allah. Allah forgives sins of those who
observe fasting.
Benefits of Fasting for Individual
Fasting helps in gaining Taqwa (Fear and love of Allah). Allah legislated fasting for gaining
Taqwa through the following verse of the Holy Qur‟an.
"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon
those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa." (2:183)
Fasting helps Muslims get closer to Allah. This is achieved by reciting and reflecting on the
Qur'an during night and day, attending the Taraweeh prayers, remembering Allah, sitting in circles
of knowledge and, for those who can, perform Umrah and observe I‟tikaaf in the last ten days of
Ramadan.
Fasting helps to be more charitable. Ibn Abbas (RA) said, "The Prophet (SAW) was the most
charitable amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the Holy month of Ramadan
(Bukhari). The Prophet (SAW) said, "He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast,
he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting
person's reward." (Tirmidhi)
Spiritually Benefit. Fasting refreshes, the soul and cheers it up from its lethargic state, while
excessive eating makes it blind and dark just as excessive water destroys crops. Excessive eating
makes a man dull and deprives a man from the power of thinking. I‟tikaf further enhances the
spiritual contentment and taqwa.
Fasting greatly
Contributes to the Preservation of Health.
The great American physician Dr. Dewey said: "Take the food away from a sick man‟s
stomach, and then you have begun to starve not the sick man but the disease.
The digestive organs are given some rest, later to work with double energy. Spiritual progress
depends on a healthy mind, which again depends on a healthy body. Therefore, the value of
fasting for preservation of health is very important. Some other health benefits are;
it boosts cognitive performance, protect from obesity and associated chronic diseases, reduce
inflammation, improve overall fitness, decrease the risk of metabolic diseases and benefit cancer
patients too.
Psychological Benefits of Fasting
“Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before
you, that you may develop self-restraint” (Qur‟ān 2:183)
Psychologically it is proven that a person who has control over his hunger can have control over
his desires as well. Developmental psychologists believe that self-restraint, one aspect of
emotional intelligence, plays a more substantial role in long-term life success than even (IQ)
Intelligence quotient.Fasting improved mood, lower stress and anxiety, increases alertness,
improves attention, memory, and sleep quality. Islam commands fasting upon us with a clear
indication of the benefits we may attain, self-restraint, which consequently leads to greater
consciousness of God, and better focus during our worship of God.
Fasting Removes false sense of Prestige and Pride. A hungry man finds himself weak and
naturally turns towards one who is strong. Hunger thus makes a man modest and turns his mind
towards the Almighty Allah for help.
Benefits of Fasting for Community
Fasting helps in sensing the unity of the Muslim Ummah. In this month, the usual activities of
Ramadan that are common to all believers, such as fasting during the same month, waiting for the
time to break the fast in the evening, congregational Tarawih Prayers observed in the mosque
after breaking the fast, and getting up at night to have the pre-dawn meal (sehri) before
beginning the fast all foster the brotherhood and affection among the believers. In particular, the
Night of Power (Layalatut Qadr) and the Eid celebration (Eid al-Fitr) at the end of Ramadan
strengthen the social ties among believers.
Fasting Teaches Sympathy for the hungry.
Fasting is the only thing which gives a sense of pangs of a hungry man in the mind. Thus, this
sense creates a spirit of kindness to the poor and the distressed. It also gives rise to the thought of
how the people will feel hunger and thirst on the resurrection day.
Fasting Teaches Moral and Self-discipline
Fasting accustoms a man to face the hardships of life and increases his power of resistance. It
also makes people punctual as they follow the accurate time of Sahoor and fatoor and pray on
time.
Economic benefits
Rich people spend very generously on the poor to win Allah‟s pleasures. Their generosity helps the
poor receive sufficient funds to meet their needs, at least for a part of the year. After Ramadan, on
Eid-ul-Fitr, every Muslim is obliged to pay the Sadaqa-tul-Fitr for every member of his family.
Zakat is also paid in this month for higher reward. Charity is also greatly done for greater reward
which is 70 times more than in other months. “Fidya” is paid by individuals who cannot fulfill the
obligation of fasting due to illness or old age. Business opportunities can also be found in food
sales, Eid baskets/gift hampers and garments etc
Benefits of Fasting and Importance
Moral Benefits:
• develops self-control and self-restraint
• builds up character by teaching self-control and self-restrain
• strengthens our willpower provides training in patience
• reduces desire and improves moral conduct
• develop feeling of humbleness “Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed for
those before you so that you may restrain against sins.”
Social Benefits
• awakens sympathy for the poor
• renews brotherly ties
• makes aware of condition of poverty
• leads to sympathy, compassion and helping the others
• develops feeling of unity and brotherhood (opening fast together)
• promotes brotherly ties between poor and rich
Physical Benefits
• prevents health problems
• gives rest to stomach and digestive organs
• helps body get rid of toxics, fat and cholesterol
• decreases the risk of metabolic diseases.
Improve mental health and wellbeing and improve overall fitness.
Economic Benefits
• old and permanently ill compensate for missed fasts by spending on poor
• Rich people spend very generously on the poor to win Allah‟s pleasures.
• After Ramadan, on Eid-ul-Fitr, every Muslim is obliged to pay the Sadaqa-tul-Fitr for every
member of his family.
• Zakat is also paid in this month for higher reward.
• Charity is also greatly done for greater reward which is 70 times more than in other months.
• “Fidya” is paid by individuals who cannot fulfill the obligation of fasting due to illness or old age.
Business opportunities can also be found in food sales, Eid baskets/gift hampers and
garments etc
Spiritual Benefits:
• brings closer to Allah and makes Muslims obedient to Allah in fulfilling obligations
• builds Taqwa and protects from evil; “Fasting is a shield and protection from the fire and
from committing sins.” (Agreed)
• reward of all good deeds is multiplied by 10 times to 700 times except fasting for which Allah
says; “Fasting is for my sake and I will reward it myself”.
• previous sins of a person are forgiven; Prophet (SAW) said “Whoever fast in the month of
Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous
sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari)
 It will lead Muslims to Paradise; The Prophet (saw) said, “Indeed, there is a gate of Paradise
called Ar-Rayyan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the day of
Resurrection.” No one else will enter it along with them.
 it will be said, “Where are those who fasted, that they may enter?” When the last of them
enter, it will be closed and no one else will go through it‟. [Bukhari]
 Every fasting day carries a Muslim closer to this Paradise.
Muslims Exempted from fasting During Ramadan
Introduction of fasting
Fasting is important during Ramadan as it allows Muslim to devote themselves to their faith, get
closer to Allah and learn patience and compassion. It‟s also one of the Five Pillars of Islam which are
the foundation of how Muslims live their lives. Allah SWT says in Quran "O you who believe, fasting
is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop Godconsciousness." (Quran 2:183). This shows the importance of fasting and fulfillment of this
obligation. However, Allah is „Raheem‟ He made this obligation easier for the Muslims in various
difficult situation. Allah says in Quran, "Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may
complete the prescribed period" (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
Features of Ramadan
The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon by religious leaders.
The month of Ramadan usually lasts between 29 to 30 days, depending on when the new crescent
moon is sighted.Muslims observe fasts following sunnah from dawn to dusk. During fasting they take
sehri before dawn and abstain from every forbidden act and get indulge in worshipping Allah by
various ways like offer five daily prayers on time and revising Quran. The fast is broken at sunset, in
iftar with a date and water, and they attend Taraweeh prayer, observe itekaf and seek Laylatul
Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan. These worships bring Muslims closer to Allah.Muslims pay
Zakat and charity for higher reward. Sadaqa tul Fitr and Fidya and kafara also support the
vulnerable people of the society in Ramadan. Hence, Ramadan is a blessing for Muslim Umma that
no other nation had ever got.
.
People who are completely exempted
The mentally ill
Individuals who are mentally ill, which affects their cognition as a whole, are not required to fast in
Ramadan, or on any other occasion. They are automatically exempted.
Children who have not reached puberty
Fasting is not obligatory for children who have not yet reached puberty. Once they do, then it
becomes mandatory.
Chronic illness
 A person who is suffering a chronic illness with little or no hope of recovery, and one who is
permanently unable to fast such as a frail, elderly person, need not fast and are not required to
fast later.
 What they are required to do is to give compensation in the form of feeding a poor person for
every day when they did not fast.
 In the early days of Islam, when fasting was made a duty, Muslims were given the choice of either
to fast or to feed one poor person for the day. Thus, Allah made the feeding of a poor person
equal to fasting. This remains the case when exemption is permanent.
People in old age: Individuals facing weakness due to very old age are essentially exempted from
fasting. As with old age comes weakness, fatal illnesses, loss of mental capabilities and extreme
fragility, hence, such old people are exempted from fasting so they can offer Fidya in place of fasting.
People who are Temporarily Exempted
Travelers
Travelers are also exempted from fasting as someone asked the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
about fasting during travel. He answered: “If you wish you may fast and you may not fast if you
wish.” [Bukhari and Muslim] The Prophet (peace be upon him) said „It is not an act of
righteousness to fast when travelling. Al-Bukhari, their duration and distance of the journey
should be such that it falls under the category where prayers are shortened. „
In Quran Allah says;[Fast] on a certain number of days. But whoever of you is ill, or on a
journey, shall fast instead the same number of days later on.‟ (2:184) The Prophet (SAW)
started his travel to Makkah fasting, but when he reached al-Kadid he broke his fast, and so did his
Companions.‟ Bukhari
Menstruation
When a woman is in her menstrual period, or having postnatal bleeding, she must not fast. In fact, if
she fasts, her fast is invalid. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri mentions that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
clearly stated that a woman in menstruation may neither pray nor fast. She is required to
compensate by fasting later on. 'Aishah said: „It happened to us and we were ordered to fast later
in compensation, but not to compensate for missed prayers.
Pregnant and lactating mothers
A woman who is pregnant or lactating mother and fears for herself or her child as a result of fasting,
may not fast. Both pregnant and lactating women must compensate for not fasting by fasting a
similar number of days later on, or they can feed a poor person for each day they do not fast.
Anas reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said
„Allah has reduced a traveler‟s prayer by half and exempted him from fasting, and He has
exempted pregnant and breastfeeding women from fasting.‟ [Ahmad]
Substitutes for Missed Fasts
The difference between Fidya, Kaffarah and Qadah Fasts
Fidya (Compensation)
What is Fidya?
Fidya is required for fasts missed
out of necessity, where the
person is unable to make up for
the fast afterwards.
Who must give Fidya?
People permanent suffering from
long term illness or unable to fast
due to old age or any other
genuine reason and are not able
to make up the fasts after
Ramadan.
How to Pay?
Amount paid for each missed fast
is equivalent to feeding one
person.
Qadah (Making up for missed
fast)
What is Qadah?
Eating, drinking or marital relation
after dawn on the mistaken
assumption that it is not dawn yet.
Who must keep fast?
A person who is exempted from
fasting due to valid reasons
(illness,pregnancy, mensuration
etc)
Kaffarah ( Expiation)
What is Kaffarah?
Kaffarah is an expiation that must be
paid in compensation for breaking the
fast by engaging in marital relation.
How to keep Qadah fast?
Left fasts during Ramadan must
be replace it compensating by
fasting later any time before the
next Ramadan.
How to Pay?
Kaffarah can be given in following
ways – Slave can be set free If a
person unable to do this then 60 days
continuous fasting If a person unable
to do this then feeding of 60 people.
Who will pay the kaffarah?
A person who deliberately miss or
break a fast without a valid reason.
Kaffarah applies to only the Sawm
of Ramadan.
Muslims Exempted from fasting in Islam
Reference:



Islam Beliefs and Practice by Yasmin Malik
Cambridge O level Islmaiyat by Dr.Saqib Muhammad Khan & Habibur-Rehman
Lecture by Dr.Zakar Naik