Sawm — Fasting in Islam

Sawm (Arabic: الصوم) is pronounced roughly like “saw” followed by “m” — sawm. The related word siyam is also used.

Meaning

Sawm means to abstain. In Islam it is the fast: from the first light of dawn until sunset, a fasting person does not eat, drink or have marital relations. But the fast is not only physical. Muslims also try to avoid lying, anger and unkind words, so that the fast trains the heart as well as the body. The Qur’an reminds Muslims that they are not the first to fast:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -

How Muslims use it

Fasting the whole month of Ramadan is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam and is required of healthy adult Muslims. Islam is merciful here: people who are ill, travelling, pregnant or nursing, elderly, or otherwise unable to fast are excused, and most make up the days later or feed a poor person instead. Muslims also fast voluntarily on other days. Each fasting day ends at sunset with a meal called iftar, often shared with family, neighbours and guests.

Example

“I’m keeping sawm today, so I’ll join you for dinner after sunset.”

To learn more, read The Five Pillars of Islam.