6 - Sawm

• Night of Power

  • During Ramadan, Muslims gather at the Mosque for extra night prayers
  • A section of the Qur'an is recited each day, so that, by the end of the month, the whole Qur'an has been read
  • All Muslims should attend the Mosque on the 27th day of Ramadan to celebrate the Night of Power
  • This is when the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) visited Muhammad and revealed the first part of the Qur'an
• Who Fasts?

  • All adult Muslims are expected to fast during Ramadan
  • Children, from quite a young age, may begin to fast for just a few days
  • You can be excused from the fast if you are ill or travelling. However, you would be expected to make up the days at a later time
  • You cannot cheat as Muslims believe Allah knows everything and you will have to answer for it on the Day of Judgement
• Importance

  • It is commanded in the Qur'an by Allah. It is fard
  • It follows the example of the Prophet Muhammad
  • It celebrates the fact that Allah has given humans the Qur'an
  • It brings people closer to Allah
  • It remembers the poor who constantly have to live without food
  • It promotes self-control and self-discipline
  • It unites Muslims around the world who are fasting at the same time
• Ramadan - The 9th month of the Islamic calendar and the month of fasting
• Suhur - The meal eaten before dawn, before fasting begins
• Iftar - The meal eaten after the sun has set, when fasting has ended
• Sawm -

  • Sawn is the 4th Pillar of Islam. It is fard (obligatory)
  • It is the practice of fasting during the month of Ramadan
  • Muslims refrain from eating and drink from dawn to dusk for 29-30 days
  • Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, as it is the month in which the Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Qur'an, revealed to him by God
• Fasting -

  • At dawn, eating and drinking stops the moment it is light enough to see a black thread from a white one
  • A special meal, suhur, is eaten before dawn
  • At dusk, the fast is broken by iftar, often consisting of dates and water
  • These meals are social events, with family, neighbours and friends
  • They must also stop evil thoughts, harmful actions and unking speech