The Manners of Sawm

The etiquette of the Muslim who observes Sawm.

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• The Muslim who fasts must adhere to a certain code of conduct and manners in order to gain the full benefit of this act of worship. A Muslim must always remember that it is not enough to only abstain from food and drink. The person who fasts must also behave properly and treat people in the correct manner. A fasting person must abstain from evil deeds and speech.

قال رسول الله ﷺ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قول الزور والعمل به فَلَيْسَ لِله حَاجَةً فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ (رواه البخاري)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever doesn’t give up speaking falsely. and acting on those lies and evil action, Allah does not care for his abstaining from eating and drinking (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting).

• Muslims are also discouraged from wasting their time with activities that are of no benefit to them such as certain radio and television programs. There are many programs which are of great benefit for a Muslim and we need to select that which will not harm our acts of worship. Muslims who are fasting must also stay away from card games, chess, novels, useless talking, backbiting, jokes, mockery and similar kinds of behavior. It is not sensible to purify your soul and gain all the rewards, just to dismiss all that rewards at the same time. It is better for a Muslim who is fasting to spend his/her time in remembrance of Allah ﷻ because he/she wants to please Allah ﷻ . Recommended actions include, reciting the Qur’aan, reading Islamic books and reciting dhikr (remembrance of Allah ). The Prophet ﷺ used to recite the Qur’aan often during Ramadaan and was more active in prayer during this time. A person who quarrels and utters foul words during a period of fasting, should be shown patience and guided along the right path.
• A fasting person does not argue or fight, but prefers to face all situations in a polite manner. Making false statements and doing evil deeds must be avoided and the Muslim who is fasting must not tell lies and get involved in these vain arguments. The Prophet ﷺ said: “How many fasting persons will perhaps get nothing from their fast but hunger, and how many who get up for night prayer will get nothing from their standing except sleeplessness.” [Ad-Daarimee, and Shaykh Al-Albaani graded its chain of narrators “good”]

قال رسول الله ﷺ كم من صائم ليسَ لَهُ مِنْ صيامه إلا الظما . وَكَمْ مِنْ قَائِم لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ إلا الشهر . (رواه ابن ماجه)

• The hadeeth mentioned above is a reminder to all Muslims to adhere to the manner and behavior of the person who is fasting. If a Muslim fasts in order to be purified, it is advisable for him to steer clear of any act that will harm his/her act of worship. It is also advisable during Ramadaan to perform the Night Prayer with humility and respect to Allah ﷻ .
• The Prophet ﷺ , his Companions and those who followed them, considered it extremely important to concentrate on the Night Prayer and great scholars of different eras have followed this example. To pray late at night is beneficial because Allah ﷻ descends every night to the heaven nearest to us during the last third of the night and says who is it that will call me so that I may answer. Another good deed is to give in charity and show compassion to others in need. The goal of giving in charity and donating, is to attain the pleasure of Allah ﷻ . It is also good to provide the food or drink with which one will break his/her fast.

قال رسول الله ﷺ “مَنْ فَطَرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أجره غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِم شَيْئًا . (رواه الترمذي)

The Prophet ﷺ said “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who observes the fast.” [At-Tirmidhi]

• In order to obtain maximum spiritual benefit from the period of fasting, a Muslim must ensure that his manner and behavior is in accordance with the laws of Allah. In this way a Muslim will gain the pleasure of Allah ﷻ through his/her actions and the rewards will be abundant.

What we learn from the lesson:

1. The Muslim who fasts must adhere to a certain code of conduct.
2. He must abstain from evil deeds and speech.
3. Recite the Qur’aan often.
4. The Night prayer is also recommended.
5. Give in charity for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ

Sawm: Its Rulings

The rules that a Muslim should follow when fasting.

• The following rulings regarding Sawm are important because they guide Muslims to perform this act of worship in the correct manner.
• Niyyah (intention): the first condition for the correctness of a Muslim’s fast is Niyyah (intention). Once a person has the desire in his/her heart to fast and carry out the command of Allah ﷻ , he/has must make the Niyyah (intention). If the sawm is obligatory such as the fast of Ramadaan, the intention must be made the previous night. If, however, the sawm is voluntary such as the fast on Mondays and Thursdays, the intention to fast can be made after fajr as long as one has not eaten anything.
• Al-Imsaak (refraining): The Muslim who fasts must avoid food, drink and anything that would break the fast during the daylight hours.
  قال رسول الله ﷺ لا يزال الناس بخيرمًا عَجَلوا الفطر. (رواه البخاري ومسلم)
  The Prophet ﷺ said: “the people will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
• Zamaan (time): This refers to daylight hours; from dawn until the setting of the sun. Allah ﷻ says: “Then complete the fast until the night.” (Soorat al-Baqarah: 187).
• Hasten to Break the Fast (iftaar): it is advisable to break the fast immediately after it is confirmed the sun has set.
• Breaking the Sawm: Muslim are advised to break the Sawm with fresh of dried dates or water. Of the three, dates are more preferred than water. It is also recommended to break the Sawm with an odd number of the dates such as three, five, or seven.

ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله

The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and reward is certain. If Allah wills.

Supplication: the Prophet recited the following supplication when breaking his fast:

• As-Suhoor (pre-dawn meal): this is a light meal eaten before dawn by the one intending to fast. The suhoor meal begins from the last third of the night and ends before Fajr sets in.It is best to delay the suhoor. People of other faiths do not partake in suhoor. It is reported by Muslim that the eating suhoor is the difference between us and people of the scriptures.
  Narrated Anas bin Maalik: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Take a meal (just) before dawn, for there is a blessing in suhoor at that time.” (agreed upon)
• Fasting is an act of worship which must be performed according to set rules as outlined above. By following these rules, a Muslim will gain full benefit and reward for his fast as well as the pleasure of Allah ﷻ .

What we learn from the lesson:

• Important rulings: Niyyah
  • To abstain
  • Duration of the fast
  • Hasten to break the fast
  • Supplication
  • Pre-dawn Breakfast