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| Arabic | صوم |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | SAWM |
| Etymology | From Arabic صوم (sawm), derived from the root ص-و-م (sa-wa-ma, 'to abstain/refrain'). The related word siyam is also used. The term encompasses abstaining from physical and spiritual impurities. |
Sawm(صوم) Islamic fasting, which involves abstaining from all food, drink, and marital relations from the break of dawn until sunset. It is the fourth pillar of Islam, obligatory during the month of Ramadan.
صوم
Sawm was prescribed in the second year of Hijrah and is obligatory for every sane, adult Muslim during Ramadan. The Quran states: 'O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (God-consciousness)' (2:183). Beyond Ramadan, voluntary fasting is highly recommended on days like Mondays and Thursdays, the 13th-14th-15th of each lunar month, and the Day of Arafat (9th Dhul Hijjah) for non-pilgrims. In the Hajj context, sawm plays several roles: fasting on the Day of Arafat is recommended for non-pilgrims but disliked for pilgrims performing Hajj (to maintain strength); fasting is prohibited on Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) and the Days of Tashreeq (11th-13th); and fasting three days can serve as a substitute for certain penalties (dam/fidyah) when a pilgrim cannot afford the sacrifice.
From Arabic صوم (sawm), derived from the root ص-و-م (sa-wa-ma, 'to abstain/refrain'). The related word siyam is also used. The term encompasses abstaining from physical and spiritual impurities.
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