Sawm

Fasting

الصوم

A school for the soul. Fasting trains restraint, gratitude, and empathy. There is the obligatory fast of Ramadan, and there are recommended voluntary fasts throughout the year.

What every fast requires

These apply to obligatory and voluntary fasts alike.

1Intention
Form the niyyah in the heart before fajr (for obligatory fasts; voluntary fasts may be intended the same morning).
2Abstain from food and drink
From the true dawn (fajr) until the sunset (maghrib). Even a sip of water breaks the fast.
3Abstain from intimate relations
Between spouses, from fajr until maghrib.
4Guard the tongue and limbs
The fast is not only of the stomach. Avoid lies, backbiting, and quarreling. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: whoever does not abandon false speech and acting on it, Allah has no need for him to give up his food and drink (Sahih al-Bukhari).

What breaks the fast

Eating or drinking deliberately.
Intentional vomiting (accidental vomiting does not break the fast).
Intimate relations during fasting hours.
The arrival of menstruation or postnatal bleeding.
Apostasy.

Obligatory vs. voluntary

Obligatory

Ramadan, missed days made up, and expiation fasts. Skipping these without a valid excuse is a major sin and must be made up.

Voluntary

Mondays and Thursdays, white days, six of Shawwal, Arafah, Ashura. Carry great reward but missing them is not sinful. They train the soul and prepare the body for Ramadan.

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