Book of Fasting

Part One Fasting of Ramadhaan – General Rules: Sawm linguistically means refraining, silence, suspension and what is included in its meanings. Sawm has been mentioned with this meaning in Allah’s (swt) noble book. Allah (swt) says: { ُ‫فكُلي واشربي وقَرَِي عيْناً فإِما تَرَيِنَ من البَشَرِ أَحَداً فقولي إِني نَذَرت‬ ً‫} للرحمنِ صَوْماً فلن أُكلَِمَ اليومَ إِنْسِيَا‬ <<So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human being, say: ‘Verily, I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious so I shall not speak to any human being this day>> (Surah Maryam Ayah 26) As for As-Sawm in the sharee’ah terminology, it is refraining from those things that break the fast and they are: food, drink, sexual relations, excess water through mouth/nose and vomiting, with the intention of getting closer to Allah (swt) from Fajr of a day until its Maghrib. This Sharee’ah meaning of fasting has been mentioned in numerous noble ayaat and there is no need to bring them up here as they are well known amongst people who are knowledgeable of them.

The Merits of As Sawm: There are many Ahaadeeth that mention the merit of Fasting of which I will mention some: Narrated from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: 11) <Allah (swt) said: Every action of ibn Aadam (man) is for himself except for Fasting which is for me and I will reward for it. Fasting is a Shield (from hellfire). So, the fasting person should avoid all sexual relations, he should not behave foolishly, and if someone insults him or fights with him then he should say: I am a fasting person.

And by Him in whose hand is my soul the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of Musk. The one fasting has two joys, one when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Rabb he will feel the joy for his fasting> Narrated by Imaam Al Bukhaari (1904) and Muslim, Nisaa’i, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad.

Also from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: <Your Lord Tabaarak wa ta’aalaa said: Every action is Kafaarah (expiation) except for fasting, because it is for me and I will reward for it...> Narrated by Abu Daawud At Tayaalissy (2485) and Ahmad.

And from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: <Every one of the sons of Adam’s actions is multiplies, a good action will have ten of it’s like or up to seven hundred times and Allah Azza wa Jalla says: ‘Except fasting because it belongs to me, and I reward it...> Narrated by Muslim (2707), An Nisaa’i, Ad Daraami and Bayhaqi. Ahmad (9712) and Ibn Majah narrated it with the following words: