Sawm of Ramadan
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Salafi/Kharijite Sixth pillar of Islam.
Basic Muslim Beliefs
Sunni Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'ah
Five Pillars of Islam
Shahādah - Profession of faith
Salah - Prayer
Zakât - Paying of alms
Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
Sunni Six articles of belief
Tawhīd - Oneness
Nabi and Rusul - Prophets and Messengers
Kutub - Divinely Revealed Books.
Malā'ikah - Angels
Qiyâmah - Judgment Day
Qadar - Fate
Shia Twelvers Roots of Religion
Tawhīd - Oneness
Adalah - Justice
Nubuwwah - Prophethood
Imamah - Leadership
Qiyâmah - Judgment day
Shia Twelvers Branches of Religion
Salah - Prayer
Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
Zakât - Poor-rate
Khums - One-fifth tax
Jihad - Struggle
Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf - Commanding good
Nahi-Anil-Munkar - Forbidding evil
Tawalla - Loving the Ahl al-Bayt
Tabarra - Disassociating from Ahl al-Bayt's enemies
Shia Ismaili 7 pillars
Walayah - Guardianship
Taharah - Purity & cleanliness
Salah - Prayers
Zakât - Purifying religious dues
Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
Jihad - Struggle
Shia Druze 7 pillars
Shahadah - Profession of faith
Salah - Prayer
Zakât - Paying of alms
Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
Walayah - Guardianship
Jihad - Struggle
Others
During the entire month is Islamic fasting observed (Arabic: sawm), in accordance to the fourth of the Sunni Five Pillars of Islam and one of the Shi'a Branches of Religion.
The Qur'an
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is specifically mentioned in three consecutive verses of the Qur'an:
- O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (Yusuf Ali, 2:183)
- (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. (Yusuf Ali, 2:184)
Prohibitions during Ramadan
Eating, drinking and sexual intercourse are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib). During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry/sarcastic retorts, gossip, and are meant to try to get along with each other better than normal. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities and its purpose being to cleanse your inner soul, and free it of harm.
Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast, though some do. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to people's health, such as to people with an illness or medical condition, and sometimes elderly people, they are excused. For example, diabetics and nursing or pregnant women usually are not expected to fast. According to hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is not allowed for menstruating women. Other individuals for whom it is usually considered acceptable not to fast are those in battle, and travelers who intended to spend fewer than five days away from home. If one's condition preventing fasting is only temporary, one is required to make up for the days missed after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives. If one's condition is permanent or present for an extended amount of time, one may make up for the fast by feeding a needy person for every day missed.
If one does not fit into one of the exempt categories and breaks his fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks his fast, he must continue fasting for the remainder of the day but then make up for the entire day later. If one breaks the fast through consensual sexual intercourse, the trangressor must make up for the day by fasting for sixty consecutive days.
Breaking the fast
Many mosques will sponsor iftar (literally: break fast) meals after sundown for the community to come and end their day's fasting as a whole. It is also common for such meals to take place at Muslim soup kitchens.Eid ul-Fitr
The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the Islamic fasting of the month of Ramadan.
Fasting in other religions
The Christian Lent and the Jewish Yom Kippur, Tisha B'av, Fast of Esther, Tzom Gedalia, and Fast of the Firstborn are also times of fasting. This relates to that which is mentioned in Qur'an 2:183, ".. Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you..", although the fasting practices of each religion might be different from one another. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) generally fast for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month. Like Muslims, they refrain from all drinking and eating unless they are children or are physically unable to fast. Fasting is also a feature of ascetic traditions in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
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