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Sawm the Fourth Pillar of Islam – Meaning Importance and Practice
Sawm the fourth pillar of Islam, was prescribed by Allah in the second year of the Hijri calendar, making it obligatory during Ramadan. Muslims also observe voluntary fasting to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
This article explores the meaning, importance, and types of fasting in Islam, highlighting its role in strengthening faith, fostering gratitude, and achieving spiritual growth. Through fasting, Muslims aim to draw closer to Allah and enhance their spiritual awareness.
Sawm the Fourth Pillar of Islam
Sawm means fasting in Islam. It is one of the five pillars and requires Muslims to stop eating, drinking, and certain behaviors from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan. Fasting helps Muslims show devotion to Allah, practice self-discipline, and reflect on their faith.
Categories of Fasting in Islam:
Mandatory (Fard): Sawm the Fourth Pillar of Islam is observed during the month of Ramadan, and is essential for eligible Muslims.
Obligatory (Wajib): Required fasting outside of Ramadan, such as making up missed fasts.
Sunnah and Voluntary (Nafl): Optional fasts following the Prophet’s practice, like fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.
Discouraged (Makrooh): Fasting that is not recommended, such as fasting on Fridays alone.
Prohibited (Makrooh Tahreemi): Fasting that is not allowed, such as fasting during menstruation.
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Sawm the Fourth Pillar of Islam – Rules
Obligatory in Ramadan: Fasting is mandatory for all able, adult Muslims. Exceptions include the sick, elderly, travelers, and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or menstruating; they may make up missed fasts or provide Fidya if unable.
Intention: Each day, a sincere intention to fast must be made before dawn.
Breakers of the Fast: Intentional eating, drinking, sexual relations, or vomiting invalidate the fast. Accidental acts do not.
Voluntary Fasts: Optional fasting, such as on Mondays, Thursdays, and during Arafah and Ashura, is encouraged but not required.
Avoidance of Sinful Acts: Refraining from lying, gossiping, and arguing is recommended to fully benefit spiritually from fasting.
Fasting Days in Islam
Ramadan: Muslims fast daily for 29 or 30 days, depending on moon sighting.
Six Days of Shawwal: After Ramadan, fasting for six days in Shawwal brings extra rewards.
Mondays and Thursdays: Fasting on these Sunnah days follows the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Day of Arafah: On the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, fasting is encouraged for those not on Hajj.
Sha’ban: Many Muslims fast frequently in this month before Ramadan.
The White Days: Fasting is encouraged on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month.
Day of Ashura: Fasting on the 10th of Muharram, with an additional day on the 9th or 11th, is highly rewarding.
Importance of Sawm (Fasting)
Fasting helps Muslims build a close connection with Allah by putting aside physical needs to focus on pleasing Him. It also reminds Muslims to be thankful for blessings like food and water.
During Ramadan, fasting unites Muslims around the world, creating a strong sense of togetherness. Fasting is also a chance to purify oneself, leaving bad habits behind and feeling refreshed in body and spirit.
Benefits of Fasting (Sawm):
- Inner Peace: Fasting purifies the soul and reduces worldly distractions, bringing calm and mental clarity.
- Emotional Resilience: By practicing patience and self-control, Muslims strengthen their emotional endurance for life’s challenges.
- Empathy: Fasting fosters compassion for the less fortunate, encouraging generosity and kindness.
- Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a fast brings joy and fulfillment from obeying Allah and making sacrifices for His sake.
The Importance of Sawm(Fasting) in the Quran and Hadith
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
The Holy Quran [33:35]
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
Narrated Talha bin ‘Ubaidullah:
A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers.” He replied: “You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me.” Thus, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, “By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise).
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully, then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk has been given to him by Allah.”
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When any one of you gets up in the morning in the state of fasting, he should neither use obscene language nor do any act of ignorance. And if anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’
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