DailyQuranGuideSawm — Fasting in Ramadan Explained
The obligatory fast observed by Muslims throughout the month of Ramadan.
What Is Sawm?
Sawm is fasting from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib) during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It involves abstaining from food, drink, marital relations, and other specific acts during daylight hours.
Who Is Required to Fast?
Fasting is obligatory upon every adult Muslim who is physically able. Exemptions apply to the sick, travelers, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, and menstruating women — with missed fasts generally made up later or compensated through Fidyah (feeding the needy) depending on the circumstance.
The Purpose of Fasting
The Quran describes fasting as a means to attain Taqwa (God-consciousness) (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183). Beyond physical abstinence, Ramadan emphasizes increased prayer, Quran recitation, charity, and self-restraint from harmful speech and behavior.
Suhoor and Iftar
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins, and Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset. Both are recommended times for dua, as supplications made while fasting and at the moment of breaking the fast are considered especially accepted.