Sawm (Fasting)

Sawm (fasting) begins with dawn and ends with sunset. Muslims rise before dawn, eat Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and drink an adequate amount of liquids for the preparation of Sawm. Eating and drinking stops at dawn. During the day no eating or drinking is allowed. The fast is broken immediately after sunset usually by eating dates and drinking water or juice. However, any lawful food or drink may be used to break the fast. This is followed by the Maghrib Salah (after sunset prayer)

Sawm (Fasting) is the Fourth Pillar of Islam

It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) enjoined zakaat al-fitr upon the Muslims at a rate of one saa’ of dates or one saa’ of barley, and he commanded that it should be given before the people went out to pray – i.e., the Eid prayers. It first becomes due on the night of the twenty-eighth of Ramadan, because the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to give it one or two days before Eid, and the month lasts twenty-nine or thirty days. The latest it may be given is at the Eid prayer, but it is not permissible to delay it until after the prayer, because of the report narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives it before the prayer, it is accepted zakaah, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is a kind of charity.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) narrated that ”...the month is like this and like this, meaning that it is twenty-nine sometimes and thirty sometimes” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.3, No.137)

The Prophet of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “Take a meal (Suhoor) a little before dawn, for there is blessing in taking a meal at that time.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.3, no.146 and Sahih Muslim, vol.2 no.2412)

The end of the fasting month is celebrated on the first of Shawwal, the 10th month, which follows Ramadan. On the 29th of Ramadan after sunset, people go out in the open looking for a new crescent in the western horizon where the sun sets. If the crescent is sighted, the end of Ramadan is declared. If the crescent is not sighted, Ramadan is extended by one day. On the day of Eid, people take a bath or shower in the early morning, eat breakfast, wear their best clothes, use perfume and proceed to the place of Eid congregation while pronouncing takbeerat, saying, Allahuakbar “Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity but Allah and all praise belongs to Allah.” Muslims pronounce takbeerat in their homes, in the street and at the place of congregation while waiting for the leader, the Imam. It was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to hold Eid prayer congregations in open grounds. Following the practice of the Prophet Muslims are advised to hold Eid prayers in open grounds. During the day, people visit each other and children receive gifts. In some countries, people go for picnics and other gatherings. Eid celebrations may be arranged at work or at any social settings. Essentially, Eid is a day of thanks to God and a day of meeting family and friends

Women who are menstruating or who have not fully recovered from childbirth postpone the fast until they are completely out of their given conditions. In addition, those who are ill or travelling may choose to postpone their fast. Allah, the Exalted mentions in the Quran “….and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; (Quran 2:185) “..And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” (Quran 2:184) This was a concession granted to old men and old women who are able to fast but it is difficult, so they are allowed not to observe fast, and must feed one poor person for each day; and for those who are sick or pregnant, if they fear for their children, so they are allowed not to observe fast and must feed (one poor person for each day)

The taraweeh is a special prayer performed in congregation. It is performed every night of Ramadan, and in it most of the Imams, or prayer leaders, seek to complete the recitation of the entire Quran. In it Muslims pray to their Lord, standing, bowing and prostrating to Him, and gain the opportunity to listen to the Quran in its entirety, listening to its verses in a melodious voice as if they were being revealed then and there. Mosques with more proficient reciters tend to fill quickly, so worshippers arrive earlier than the stated time to reserve their place. Some mosques have over a thousand worshippers who come from all over the city to attend. Indeed it is an event one awaits an entire year to experience. The taraweeh prayer is a means of forgiveness, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Whoever stands the night in prayer in Ramadan believing in God and seeking His reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) Worshippers listen to the Quran being recited in prayer and ponder over its meanings, and the voice of the Imam has much to do with the effect it has on people. In various mosques, it is not rare to see people crying while listening to its verses, verses which speak of the blessings of God, His Mercy and Love, His Paradise which He has reserved for the patient believers, as well as verses which speak about the sufferings of Hell. The Quran is a revelation which speaks to each individual, and thus each individual feels that God is directly addressing him when he hears it. Thus the feelings which arise while listening to its recitation is truly incomparable and indescribable

The term Al-Qadr has been frequently translated as “the power”. A better translation may be “the value” or “the decree” because God says the value of this night is greater than one thousand months, a lifetime of over eighty-three years! God sends His decrees in this night. This is the night when the Quran was first revealed at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allah says in the Quran: “We have indeed revealed this (the Quran) in the Night of Value (or Measure). And what will explain to you what the Night of Value is? The Night of Value is better than a thousand months. Therein come down angels and the Spirit (the angel Gabriel) by God’s permission with all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.” (Quran 97:1-5) According to authentic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, Muslims are advised to spend the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights of Ramadan in worship and doing good works to assure finding Laylat al-Qadr

Allah, the Exalted mentions in the Quran “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for humankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan) must observe the fasts that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number from other days. God intends for you ease, and He does not want for you difficulty. (So you) must complete the same number, and that you must magnify God for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.” (2:185)