Sawm (Fasting)
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Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.
Sawm (صوم) is the fourth pillar of Islam — abstaining from food, drink, sexual activity, and sinful behaviour from Fajr to Maghrib during Ramadan, with the intention of worship.
Key Facts for Qimiyah Exam (Saudi):
- Sawm of Ramadan is Fard (obligatory) — missing it without excuse requires Qada (compensation) AND Kaffarah (expiation).
- The fast runs from Fajr al-Sadiq (true dawn) to Maghrib (sunset) — not to Subh Sadiq or sunrise.
- Commits to memory the intention nightly during Ramadan (Shafi’i/Hanbali view); declarative intention at the start of Ramadan is sufficient (Hanafi view).
- Mubah (permissible) things that do NOT break the fast: eating or drinking forgetfully (hadith), swallowing saliva, bathing, cupping (some scholars), brushing teeth (without swallowing toothpaste).
⚡ Exam tip: The distinction between things that invalidate (batal) and things that do NOT invalidate the fast is a high-yield topic. Also know that vomiting does not break the fast in Hanafi fiqh.
🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)
Standard content for students with a few days to months.
Definition and Legal Status
Sawm linguistically means “abstinence” (imsak). In Shari’ah, it is defined as: “Abstaining from those things that break the fast, from Fajr to Maghrib, with the intention of worship.”
Sawm is established as a pillar of Islam by the Quran, Sunnah, and Ijma’ (consensus):
- Quran: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183).
- Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam is built upon five pillars… and fasting Ramadan.”
Types of Fasting
1. Fard (Obligatory) Fasts:
- Fasting during Ramadan (the most mandatory)
- Fasting as expiation (Kaffarah) for deliberate breaking of a Ramadan fast
- Fasting as a vow (nadhr) — when a person vowed to fast a certain number of days
2. Sunnah (Recommended) Fasts:
- The six days of Shawwal (immediately after Ramadan)
- The 10th of Muharram (Ashura) and optionally the 9th ( Tasu’a)
- The Mondays and Thursdays of each week
- The three middle days of each lunar month (Ayam al-Bid)
3. Forbidden Fasts:
- Fasting on Eid al-Fitr (1st Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) — both strictly prohibited
- Permanent (ongoing) fasting without eating is prohibited in the Hanafi school unless a person eats a small amount every day
4. Disliked (Makruh) Fasts:
- Fasting only Saturday (without reason) — the Prophet ﷺ warned against this
- Fasting the day of Doubt (Yawm al-Shakk) — the 30th of Sha’ban if the sighting of Ramadan is uncertain
Elements That Break the Fast
| Action | Effect on Fast | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eating deliberately | Invalidates | Even a small amount; even if forgotten then reminded |
| Drinking deliberately | Invalidates | Same ruling |
| Sexual intercourse | Invalidates | Also requires Ghusl and Kaffarah if deliberate |
| Intentional vomiting (qusl) | Invalidates | Unintentional vomiting does not break fast |
| Menstruation/postpartum bleeding | Invalidates | The fast is void; must make Qada |
| Ejaculation due to gaze/touching | Invalidates | In most schools; requires Ghusl and Qada |
| Eating due to coercion | Does NOT invalidate | Must make up the fast (Qada) only |
Things That Do NOT Break the Fast
The following are common exam topics:
- Injected nutrients — IV drips and intramuscular injections do NOT break the fast in the opinion of many contemporary scholars (including Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Committee).
- Eye/ear drops — Most scholars hold they do NOT break the fast since the cavity does not connect to the stomach.
- Cupping (hijamah) — The majority view is that cupping does NOT invalidate the fast, although the Malikis consider it makruh.
- Swallowing one’s own saliva — Does NOT break the fast.
- Unintentional eating/drinking — If done forgetfully, the fast is valid; one should stop immediately upon remembering.
Exemptions from Fasting
The following persons are NOT required to fast:
- The ill — whose condition would worsen, or recovery would be delayed
- The traveller — whose journey is 80 km or more (Hanafi); or who travels during Ramadan (Shafi’i)
- Pregnant or nursing women — if fasting threatens their health or the baby’s
- The elderly and chronically ill who cannot fast
- Children before puberty
These persons must make up the fasts (Qada) later, except the terminally ill who may feed a poor person for each day (Fidyah).
Kaffarah (Expiation)
If a person deliberately breaks a Ramadan fast by eating, drinking, or sexual intercourse, they must:
- Make up the fast (Qada) — one day for each day missed
- Either fast 60 consecutive days OR feed 60 poor people (2 meals each), or FREE a believing slave
The Kaffarah is WAJIB (obligatory) for deliberate breaking. For eating forgetfully, only Qada is required.
The Virtues of Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When any one of you is fasting, he should neither indulge in obscenity nor ignorant behaviour. If someone fights or abuses him, let him say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting’” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Fasting is a hidden act of worship — unlike Zakat or Hajj, no one can observe whether a person is truly fasting, making its reward immense.
🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)
Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.
Advanced Fiqh of Sawm — Examination Depth
The Question of Intention (Niyyah)
The role of intention in Sawm is critical. Different schools hold different views:
- Hanafi: A general intention for Ramadan fast at the beginning of the month is sufficient. One does not need to renew the intention nightly.
- Shafi’i/Hanbali: The intention (niyyah) must be made nightly during Ramadan. For a voluntary fast, the intention should be made before noon of the following day.
Current Saudi practice: The Permanent Committee follows the majority view that niyyah for Ramadan is established by the sighting of the moon and the declaration of the first day — no additional verbal intention is required.
The Science of Ramadan Timings
Understanding the Islamic day is essential for Sawm:
- Fajr al-Sadiq (True Dawn): The second dawn — the light that appears horizontally across the horizon. This marks the BEGINNING of the fast.
- Maghrib (Sunset): When the disc of the sun completely disappears below the horizon. This marks the END of the fast.
During extreme northern/southern latitude seasons, Islamic scholars have debated whether fasting follows the local schedule or the schedule of the nearest country with normal day/night cycles. The Saudi Fatwa Committee allows those in areas with extremely long days to follow the closest normal country schedule.
Voluntary Fasting Without Breaking the Fast
A common misconception is that vomiting breaks the fast. In the Hanafi school, vomiting does NOT invalidate the fast — whether intentional or unintentional. However, the Shafi’i school holds that intentional vomiting (qusl) invalidates the fast, while accidental vomiting does not.
Sexual Intercourse During Fasting: If a fasting person has sexual intercourse during Ramadan deliberately:
- The fast IS broken
- Kaffarah becomes WAJIB (not just Qada)
- Both parties must make Ghusl immediately
- The 60-day Kaffarah fast must be consecutive (no breaking between days without valid reason)
The Fidyah Provision
The fidyah (feeding the poor) option for breaking fast applies to:
- Elderly persons who cannot fast
- Terminally ill patients with no hope of recovery
- Those with chronic conditions worsened by fasting
Rate of Fidyah: One mudd (a specific measurement, approximately 600g of wheat) per missed day, given to a poor person as two meals. In modern practice, one may also pay the monetary equivalent to charity organisations.
Fasting in the Workplace — Modern Rulings
Common contemporary questions in the Qimiyah exam:
- Night shift workers: May sleep during the day and work at night — but must still fast from Fajr to Maghrib regardless of work schedule.
- Using insulin injections: Subcutaneous insulin injections do not break the fast according to the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.
- Inhalers for asthma: The ruling is debated — some scholars say it breaks the fast due to vapour entering the lungs; others disagree. The Saudi committee has not issued a definitive ruling, but patients should consult scholars.
Comparison Between Fasts
| Feature | Ramadan Fast | Kaffarah Fast | Nafila Fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obligation | Fard | Wajib | Sunnah |
| Consecutive days | Not required | Required (for Kaffarah) | Not required |
| Making up missed fasts | Qada required | Not applicable | No Qada required |
| Breaking without excuse | Kaffarah + Qada | Only Qada | No consequence |
Practice Questions for Qimiyah Exam
- A woman bleeds after 15 days of Ramadan due to a health condition. What are her obligations?
- A person was forced to eat at gunpoint during Ramadan. What is the ruling?
- What is the difference between Qada and Kaffarah? When does each apply?
- Can a traveller who broke their fast during Ramadan make up the fasts in winter when days are shorter?
- Does swallowing blood from a cut gum invalidate the fast?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking all injections break the fast: Only nutritive IV fluids that enter the stomach directly are problematic.
- Confusing Kaffarah with Qada: Qada = making up the missed day; Kaffarah = an expiation penalty for deliberate wrongdoing.
- Believing that taking medicine invalidates fasting without distinguishing the type — different rulings apply to oral tablets vs. injections vs. eye drops.
- Missing the distinction between Fajr al-Sadiq and Subh al-Kadhib (false dawn) — the latter is the light before true dawn; eating before the true dawn is permissible.
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