The Spiritual Season of Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting the blessed month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam, prescribed by Allah to cultivate Taqwa (God-consciousness): "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183).
Core Essentials of Fasting (Arkan as-Sawm)
- 1. Intention (Niyyah): Making the intention in the heart before Fajr each night (or for the whole month per Maliki school).
- 2. Abstinence (Imsak): Refraining completely from food, drink, smoking, and marital intimacy from the true dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib).
Sunnahs of Suhoor & Iftar
- The Blessing of Suhoor: The Prophet ﷺ urged: "Eat Suhoor, for indeed in Suhoor there is blessing" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923). It should be delayed until just before Fajr.
- Hasting Iftar: Break fast immediately at sunset with fresh dates, water, and make the authentic prophetic supplication (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357):
"Dhahaba adh-dhama'u wabtallat al-'urooqu wa thabata al-ajru insha'Allah" (The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills).
Valid Exemptions & Medical Guidelines
- Travelers & Temporary Illness: Permitted to break fast and make up missed days later (Qada) [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184].
- Chronic Illness & Elderly: Those unable to fast pay Fidya (feeding one needy person for each day missed).
- Inhalers, Injections & Eye Drops: Non-nutritive injections and medically necessary eye/ear drops do not break the fast according to contemporary Islamic jurisprudence assemblies.
Laylat al-Qadr & Zakat al-Fitr
Seek the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr) in the odd nights of the last ten days, reciting: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni" (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3513). Pay Zakat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer to purify the fast.