4th pillar- sawm

Question 1

What is sawm?

Answer 1

Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
All adult Muslims must give up the following things during the hours
of daylight: Food or drink of any sort, Smoking, sexual activity.

Question 2

Why do Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan?

Answer 2

Help them to get closer to Allah.
To experience hunger and thirst helps them to appreciate what some of the world’s poorest people go through.
Fasting can teach self-restraint and a time to reflect on what they say and do
Mosques are full of worshippers during this month, which brings the ummah much closer.
Muslims believe fasting can help to make them both spiritually and physically purer.

Question 3

Where is sawm in the scripture?

Answer 3

‘you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you… it was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind… He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful.’

It is ‘prescribed’ i.e. compulsory
Ramadan was the month angel Jibril first visited Muhammad to reveal the Qur’an
Fasting should bring Muslims closer to Allah and make them grateful for what they
have.
‘Whoever does not give up lying and evil deeds and saying bad words to others then God is not in need of their leaving food and drink.’