Fasting in Islam

Fasting in Islam, referred to as ṣawm or ṣiyām, is the fourth pillar of Islam and a required practice for able Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. It involves abstaining from food, drink, sexual activity, and any substitutes for them from dawn until sunset, with the fast beginning and ending at the calls for the dawn and sunset prayers. The purpose of this observance is to cultivate self-control, piety, and compassion for the needy.

The Quran, which Muslims believe was revealed in the month of Ramadan (specifically on the Night of Power, observed during one of the last ten nights), addresses fasting in verses 2:183–185 and 5:95. These verses outline exemptions for those who are sick, traveling, or otherwise unable to fast, allowing them to postpone the fast for an equal number of days or, in some cases, to feed the needy as an alternative. Fasting is also prescribed as a means of atonement for certain sins.

Origins

The practice of religious fasting is not unique to Islam; it has been observed for centuries by other faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Taoism. In early Christianity, fasting was initially voluntary for sacraments like baptism and ordination, later becoming mandatory with the Lenten fast expanding to 40 days in the 6th century. Some scholars, such as historian Philip Jenkins and theologian Paul-Gordon Chandler, suggest that Ramadan’s fasting discipline may have been influenced by the strict Lenten practices of Syrian Churches. Other cultures, including indigenous peoples of the Americas, Assyrians, and Babylonians, also used fasting for penance or to appease deities.

General conditions

A valid fast requires a clear intention (niyyah) made the night before each day of Ramadan. Beyond abstaining from food, drink, and sex, Muslims must also avoid forbidden speech and actions under Islamic law, as failing to do so renders the fast meaningless and merely an act of starvation. The fast is meant to inspire greater charity and benevolence toward others. Exemptions apply to those who are sick, pregnant, menstruating, nursing, or traveling; missed fasts must be made up later.

Menstruating women are forbidden from fasting during their period, as the Quran describes menstruation as a discomfort, and they must bathe and resume fasting once it ends, making up the missed days before the next Ramadan. For other health-related exemptions, a fidya (a form of compensation) may be required to feed a needy person. Breaking the fast at sunset with dates is a sunnah (recommended practice).