What is Sawm?
Sawm (fasting) is the act of abstaining from the things that break the fast, from Fajr (true dawn) to Maghrib (sunset). It is one of the Furu-e-Deen.
Sawm in the Holy Quran
Fasting is mentioned many time in the holy Quran, such as in the verse:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾
O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary. (2:183)
Why is Fasting Important?
It is important to fast as it is a form of submission to Allah (swt). Fasting is a method of training ourselves to control our desires. It helps us to remove ourselves from worldly activities, and spend our day in prayer and thought. Fasting is not only a physical task, rather it is deeply spiritual, and when we fast our eyes, ears, mouth and hands also fast with us. To benefit the most from our fast, we keep away from daily distractions like unnecessary shopping, gossiping with our friends, watching unnecessary tv shows, etc., and we spend the day reading the holy Quran, praying on time and reading daily duas (supplications), specially in the holy month of Ramadhan.
To read more about types of fasts, things that break the fast, and conditions of fasting click below:
Rules of Fasting
