FASTING - SAWM Presentation by Abdullah Nasir SURATUL BAQARAH Q2 V185 WHAT IS FASTING • Fasting is the total abstenance from food and water and sexual intercourse from dawn till sunset . • Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory on every Muslim adult. The Arabic word sawm is used for fasting. The word sawm (plural siyam) literally means 'to refrain', but as an Islamic term, it means refraining from food, drinks and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FASTING IN ISLAM AND FASTING IN OTHER RELIGIONS • The exercise of abstaining from things otherwise lawful in the ordinary course of life, at the behest of Allah, strengthens man's morality and self-control and deepens in him the consciousness of the Lord. This is what distinguishes fasting in Islam from fasting in other religions. • In other religions they don’t fast at the behest of Allah, they mostly fast for worldly reasons. • Sometimes they fast for an unusal time like 6-12 or 6-6 not from dawn till sunset. • Religions that also fast are : Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Taoism. • Q2 verse 183 ALLAH SAID IN THE GLORIOUS QURAN IMPORTANCE OF FASTING • The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly expressed in several sayings of the Prophet(S.A.W.). It is reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: • 'He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al- Qadr in prayer with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.' (Bukhari and Muslim) HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR FASTING BEFORE RAMADAN. • Five ways to prepare for Ramadan • Fast in Sha'ban. ... • Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. • Maintain a nutritious diet. ... • Recite the Qur'an regularly with meaning. ... • Make a checklist. ... • Follow the Sunnah and pray extra Dua' HADITH • Book 6, Number 2382: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)as saying: Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day. • "Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” (Bukhari) WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU DON’T FAST . WHO IS EXEMPTED FROM FASTING • the insane; • children who are not adolescent yet; • the elderly and chronically ill for whom fasting is unreasonably strenuous; Such persons are required to feed at least one poor person every day in Ramadan for which he or she has missed fasting. • pregnant women and nursing may postpone the fasting at a later time; • the ill and the travellers can also defer their fasting • Women during the period of menstruation or of postchildbirth confinement. Fasting during these periods is forbidden and should be made up later, a day for a day. VALIDATION FOR FASTING • The validity of fasting depends on the following: • Abstaining from food, liquids and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. • The intention to fast must be made every day before dawn. The intention(niyyah) may be made during night before going to sleep or it can also be made at the time of Suhoor before dawn. Suhoor is eating before fasting. It should be as close to Fajr time as possible. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says: • 'Partake Suhoor, for there is blessing in Suhoor.'(Bukhari, Muslim) • It is desirable to break the fast as soon as possible after sunset. Breaking the fast with dates or water is a tradition of the Prophet. Following is one of the Du'a for breaking fast: THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. ANY QUESTION
