Fasting: A Pillar of Islam

The importance of the month of Ramadaan.

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• The fourth pillar of Islam requires Muslims to fast the month of Ramadaan. This is established by many verses of the Qur’aan and ahaadeeth. Sawm is one of the pillars of Islam. Therefore, those who deny that the fast is necessary are disbelievers.

قال رسول الله ﷺ بني الإسلامُ على خَمْس شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدًا رسول الله وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة والحج وصوم رمضان .(رواه البخاري ومسلم).

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam was built on five pillars, testifying that there is nothing wothy of worship except Allah and that Muhummads the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salah;paying Zakah; performing pilgrimage to the House (The Ka’bah in Makkah); and Fasting Ramadaan [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

• The fast during Ramadaan was obligated on all Muslims on Monday, the second day of Sha’baan in the second year after the Hijrah.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ( سورة البقرة : ١٨٥)

“The month of Ramadaan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Soorat al-Baqarah 185)

• Allah ﷻ has made the importance of Ramadaan clear to all Muslims so that they can observe fasting (Sawm) and carry out the orders which Allah ﷻ has given to all Muslims.
• A person who fails to observe Sawm during the month of Ramadaan must realize that it is a great sin to disregard one of the five pillars of Islam.

What we learn from the lesson:

1. Ramadaan is the fourth pillar of Islam.
2. Fasting during Ramadaan was made obligatory on Monday, Sha’baan in the second year after the Hijrah.