Islamic fasting
The Television & Movie Wiki: for TV, celebrities, and movies.
| Part of the series on |
| Beliefs and practices |
|
Oneness of God |
| Major figures |
|
Muhammad |
| Texts & law |
|
Qur'an · Hadith · Sharia |
| Branches of Islam |
| Sociopolitical aspects |
|
Art · Architecture |
| See also |
- This is a sub-article to Islamic jurisprudence and fasting.
Islamic fasting is the name of fasting regulated by the Islamic jurisprudence. Its arabic name is Sawm, a islamic Term. It can be different reasons, but it is mainly done as a acording to the Basic Muslim Beliefs during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Contents |
Definition
Muslims that participate in a fast are prohibited from eating, drinking, and engaging in sexual intercoarse between dawn (fajr) and sunset (mughrib)).
Purpose
Its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul, and free it of harm.
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan
- Main article{{qif
|test={{{2|}}}|then=s}}: {{qif
|test={{{1|}}}
|then=Islamic fasting on the Islamic month of Ramadan
}}{{qif
|test={{{2|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{2}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{3|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{3}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{4|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{4}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{5|}}}
|then= & [[{{{20}}}]]
}} Islamic Fasting is mainly done as a acording to the Basic Muslim Beliefs during the Islamic Month of Ramadan.
On the day of Ashura
- Main article{{qif
|test={{{2|}}}|then=s}}: {{qif
|test={{{1|}}}
|then=Ashura fasting
}}{{qif
|test={{{2|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{2}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{3|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{3}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{4|}}}
|then={{{else{{{test|}}}|{{{test{{{test|}}}|{{{then|}}}}}}}}}}|then=, |else= & }}[[{{{4}}}]]
}}{{qif
|test={{{5|}}}
|then= & [[{{{20}}}]]
}} Islamic Fasting is recomended on the day of Ashura.
Part of the Greater Jihad
It can also bee done voluntarly, as part of the Greater Jihad. The Sawm can teach the believers patience and self-control. Most importantly the fast is also seen as a great sign of obedience by the believer to God. Faithful observance of the Sawm is believed to atone for personal faults and misdeeds, at least in part, and to help earn a place in paradise. It is also believed to be beneficial for personal conduct, that is, to help control passions and temper. The fast is also meant to provide time for meditation and to strengthen one's faith.
Breaking oaths
If a oath is given, but if circumstances dictate it to be broken, one needs to pray for thre days.
Amend sins
Fullfilment of a prayer
Beginning the Fast
Most Muslims begin their fast with a meal called suhoor in the early morning before dawn. They are obligated to finish eating before it is time for the fajr prayer. Unlike the zuhr and maghrib prayers which have clear astronomical definitions (noon and sunset), there are several definitions used in practice for the timing of "true dawn" (al-fajr as-sadq) as mentioned in the hadith. These range from when the center of the sun is from 16-21 degrees below the horizon [1] which amounts to about 40-60 minutes before civil dawn. There are no restrictions on the morning meal other than the restrictions on Muslims diet. After completing suhoor, Muslims pray the fajr prayer and go about their daily business.
Prohibitions while fasting
Eating, drinking and sexual intercourse are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib).
Some groups are recomended to not fast. According to Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to people's health, such as to people with an illness or medical condition, and sometimes elderly people, they are excused. For example, diabetics and nursing or pregnant women usually are not expected to fast.
Observing the fast is not allowed for menstruating women, married women are not allowed to fast against their husbands will.
Fasting in other religions
The Christian Lent and the Jewish Yom Kippur, Tisha B'av, Fast of Esther, Tzom Gedalia, and Fast of the Firstborn are also times of fasting. This relates to that which is mentioned in Quran 2:183, ".. Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you..", fasting is prescribed to Muslims as it was prescribed to those before them, e.g. Christian and Jewish, although the fasting practices of each religion might be different from one another. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) generally fast for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month. Like Muslims, they refrain from all drinking and eating unless they are children or are physically unable to fast. Fasting is also a feature of ascetic traditions in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
