Sawm الصوم

In review — pending scholar verification

Ritual fasting from dawn to sunset, especially during the month of Ramadan; the fourth pillar of Islam.

Overview

Sawm (صَوْم) is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam: abstaining from food, drink, and marital relations from true dawn (fajr) until sunset (maghrib) with the intention of worship. It is obligatory throughout the month of Ramadan for every sane, mature, resident, healthy Muslim, with concessions for travelers, the sick, and others as defined by the Sunnah.

Etymology

The root ص-و-م means to restrain or abstain. Linguistically, anyone who refrains from speech, food, or movement is described as fasting. In the Qur'an, Maryam uses the term for a vow of silence: 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention' (Surah Maryam 19:26).

Quranic references

The obligation is established in: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183 — 'O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.'

Concessions are detailed in: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184 — 'And whoever is ill or on a journey — then an equal number of other days.'

The boundary of dawn and dusk: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187 — 'And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset.'

The reward for fasters: Surah Al-Ahzab 33:35 — 'And the men who fast and the women who fast... Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.'

Hadith and tradition

Abu Huraira reported that Allah said in a hadith qudsi: "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward it. He leaves his food, drink, and desire for My sake." — Sahih al-Bukhari 1904

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need that he should leave his food and drink." — Sahih al-Bukhari 1903

Voluntary fasts include the day of Arafah, Ashura, six days of Shawwal, and Mondays and Thursdays — all narrated authentically in Sahih Muslim and the Sunan.

Significance

Sawm trains the nafs to resist Shaytan, sharpens Iman, and instills compassion for the poor — preparing the heart for Zakat and consistent Salah. It is the only act of worship Allah attributes entirely to Himself in reward, and the fasters enter Paradise through a gate called Ar-Rayyan.

References

Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim, on Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183–187.
Al-Qurtubi, Al-Jami li-Ahkam al-Qur'an, fiqh of fasting.
Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Siyam.
Ibn al-Qayyim, Zad al-Ma'ad, the Prophet's guidance regarding fasting.