sawm

Sawm is the Arabic term for fasting in Islam. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory for adult Muslims during the lunar month of Ramadan. In addition to Ramadan, Muslims may observe voluntary fasts on other days for spiritual discipline or personal reasons.

During a fast, believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. A sincere intention (niyyah) is required. Exemptions are allowed for those who are ill, traveling, pregnant or breastfeeding, menstruating, or otherwise unable to fast. Those who miss days for valid reasons are generally expected to make them up later; in some cases, fidya, a charitable donation, may be paid for missed days.

The pre-dawn meal is called suhoor, and the fast is traditionally broken at sunset with an iftar, often starting with dates and water. The Ramadan fast is commonly accompanied by increased prayer, Qur’an recitation, and acts of charity. Eid al-Fitr, celebrated after Ramadan ends, marks the transition from fasting to a festive conclusion of the month.

Fasting has specific rulings within Islamic jurisprudence. Deliberately breaking the fast without a valid excuse can incur kaffarah, or expiation, which may involve fasting for sixty consecutive days or feeding sixty poor people, depending on the circumstance and school of thought. The practice and its details can vary among different Islamic traditions.