{"id":45,"date":"2026-07-03T21:34:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abuhashim.com\/?p=45"},"modified":"2026-07-11T11:39:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:39:31","slug":"the-third-pillar-of-islam-understanding-fasting-in-in-the-month-of-ramadan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abuhashim.com\/en\/the-third-pillar-of-islam-understanding-fasting-in-in-the-month-of-ramadan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Third Pillar of Islam: Understanding Fasting in in the month of Ramadan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>Every year, over\u00a0<strong>1.8 billion Muslims<\/strong>\u00a0around the world embrace one of the most spiritually transformative acts of worship in Islam \u2014\u00a0<strong>Sawm (fasting)<\/strong>\u00a0during the blessed month of\u00a0<strong>Ramadan<\/strong>. It is not merely about abstaining from food and drink \u2014 it is a\u00a0<strong>complete spiritual journey<\/strong>\u00a0of self-discipline, gratitude, devotion, and closeness to Allah.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sawm<\/strong>\u00a0is the\u00a0<strong>third pillar of Islam<\/strong>\u00a0and one of the most beloved acts of worship in the sight of Allah \u2014 so beloved, in fact, that Allah Himself declared that He will personally reward those who fast sincerely.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we explore the\u00a0<strong>meaning, definition, Quranic evidence, and incredible merits<\/strong>\u00a0of fasting in Islam.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the Third Pillar of Islam?<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>third pillar of Islam<\/strong>\u00a0is\u00a0<strong>Siyam (Sawm)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the obligatory fasting observed during the holy month of\u00a0<strong>Ramadan<\/strong>, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.<\/p>\n<h3>Quick Reference Card<\/h3>\n<table width=\"691\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Info<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Pillar Number<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Third Pillar of Islam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Arabic Name<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Siyam \/ Sawm (\u0635\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0645)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>When<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Month of Ramadan (9th Islamic month)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Duration<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>From Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Who Must Fast<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Every adult Muslim (male &amp; female)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Key Quranic Reference<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Primary Purpose<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Achieving Taqwa (God-consciousness)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>What Does the Qur\u2019an Say About Fasting?<\/h2>\n<p>Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta\u2019ala) directly commands fasting in the Holy Qur\u2019an with one of the most well-known and powerful verses in Islam:<\/p>\n<h3>Quranic Verse \u2014 The Command to Fast<\/h3>\n<h2>\u064a\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u064a\u064f\u0651\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u0622\u0645\u064e\u0646\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0643\u064f\u062a\u0650\u0628\u064e \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0643\u064f\u0645\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0650\u0651\u064a\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f \u0643\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0643\u064f\u062a\u0650\u0628\u064e \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646 \u0642\u064e\u0628\u0652\u0644\u0650\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652 \u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0642\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e<\/h2>\n<p><em>\u201cO you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may achieve Taqwa (God-consciousness).\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<strong>Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Key Insights From This Verse:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>\u201cO you who believe!\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Allah addresses the believers directly, making fasting a personal call to every Muslim<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>\u201cFasting is prescribed for you\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 this is not optional; it is an\u00a0<strong>obligatory act of worship<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>\u201cAs it was prescribed for those before you\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 fasting is not new to Islam; it was also prescribed to\u00a0<strong>previous nations and prophets<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>\u201cSo that you may achieve Taqwa\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the ultimate goal of fasting is\u00a0<strong>Taqwa<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a heightened awareness, love, and fear of Allah in every moment of life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is the Definition of Fasting (Siyam) in Islam?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Siyam (Sawm)<\/strong>\u00a0is defined in Islam as:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWorshipping Allah by intentionally abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse, and all other things that break the fast \u2014 from the time of Fajr (dawn) until Maghrib (sunset) \u2014 with the sincere intention of pleasing Allah.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The key word here is\u00a0<strong>intention (Niyyah)<\/strong>. Fasting without the intention of worshipping Allah is simply hunger \u2014 not an act of worship. The intention is what transforms this physical act into a deeply spiritual one.<\/p>\n<h2>What Breaks the Fast? \u2014 Things to Avoid During Siyam<\/h2>\n<p>During the fast, Muslims must abstain from the following:<\/p>\n<table width=\"723\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What to Avoid<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<strong>Food &amp; Drink<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Eating, drinking, or consuming anything (including water)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<strong>Intimate Relations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Sexual intercourse between spouses during fasting hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<strong>Smoking<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>All forms of smoking and vaping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<strong>Injections<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Nutritional injections or drips (scholars\u2019 opinions vary)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<strong>Bad Character<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Lying, backbiting, arguing, and sinful speech<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Prophet Muhammad \ufdfa said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWhoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<strong>[Sahih Al-Bukhari]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This reminds us that\u00a0<strong>Ramadan is not just about physical restraint<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 it is about moral and spiritual purification as well.<\/p>\n<h2>The Merits of Fasting \u2014 What Makes Sawm So Special?<\/h2>\n<h3>The Greatest Hadith on the Merits of Fasting<\/h3>\n<p>Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah \ufdfa said:<\/p>\n<h3>Arabic:<\/h3>\n<p><em>\u201c\u0643\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0651 \u0639\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0644\u0650 \u0627\u0628\u0652\u0646\u0650 \u0622\u062f\u064e\u0645\u064e \u064a\u064f\u0636\u064e\u0627\u0639\u064e\u0641\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u062d\u064e\u0633\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0634\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0623\u064e\u0645\u0652\u062b\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0625\u0650\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0633\u064e\u0628\u0652\u0639\u0650\u0645\u0650\u0627\u0626\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0636\u0650\u0639\u0652\u0641\u064d\u060c \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0632\u064e\u0651 \u0648\u064e\u062c\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0651: \u0625\u0650\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u064e\u0651\u0648\u0652\u0645\u064e \u0641\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0646\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064f \u0644\u0650\u064a \u0648\u064e\u0623\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0627 \u0623\u064e\u062c\u0652\u0632\u0650\u064a \u0628\u0650\u0647\u0650\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Meaning in English:<\/h3>\n<p><em>\u201cEvery good deed of the son of Adam is multiplied in reward \u2014 from 10 to 700 times \u2014 according to one\u2019s intention and sincerity. But Allah (SWT) proclaims: \u2018Except for fasting \u2014 for it is for Me, and I will personally grant its reward. He leaves his desires and his food for My sake.\u2019 The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord. And the smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<strong>[Collected by Al-Bukhari &amp; Muslim]<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Breaking Down This Extraordinary Hadith<\/h2>\n<p>This single Hadith contains\u00a0<strong>four extraordinary merits of fasting<\/strong>\u00a0that make it unlike any other act of worship:<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0Merit 1 \u2014 Fasting is Personally Rewarded by Allah<\/h3>\n<p>Every good deed a Muslim performs earns between\u00a0<strong>10 and 700 times its reward<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 this is already an incredible blessing. But fasting is in a\u00a0<strong>category entirely of its own<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cExcept for fasting \u2014 for it is for Me, and I will personally grant its reward.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Allah does not assign a fixed multiplier to fasting \u2014 He\u00a0<strong>personally takes ownership<\/strong>\u00a0of its reward. This means the reward for sincere fasting is\u00a0<strong>beyond human calculation and imagination<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 only Allah knows its true value.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0Merit 2 \u2014 Fasting is an Act of Pure Sincerity (Ikhlas)<\/h3>\n<p>Allah says:\u00a0<em>\u201cHe leaves his desires and his food for My sake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This is why fasting holds such an elevated status \u2014 it is the\u00a0<strong>most sincere act of worship<\/strong>\u00a0a Muslim can perform. Unlike Salah or Zakat, which can be seen by others,\u00a0<strong>fasting is completely between the servant and Allah<\/strong>. No one can truly verify whether a person is fasting \u2014 only Allah knows. This makes it the purest expression of\u00a0<strong>Ikhlas (sincerity)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0Merit 3 \u2014 Two Moments of Incomparable Joy<\/h3>\n<p>The Prophet \ufdfa tells us that the fasting person experiences\u00a0<strong>two unique moments of pure joy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Moment of Joy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>When It Happens<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What It Means<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>First Joy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>When breaking the fast (Iftar)<\/td>\n<td>The relief, gratitude, and blessing of breaking the fast after a day of worship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Second Joy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>When meeting Allah on the Day of Judgment<\/td>\n<td>The ultimate, eternal joy of seeing Allah\u2019s pleasure for the fasting done in this world<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>first joy<\/strong>\u00a0is a taste of blessing in this world. The\u00a0<strong>second joy<\/strong>\u00a0is the reward of the Hereafter \u2014 and it is incomparably greater.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0Merit 4 \u2014 The Blessed Smell of the Fasting Person<\/h3>\n<p><em>\u201cThe smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Musk is considered the\u00a0<strong>finest and most precious fragrance<\/strong>\u00a0in the Islamic tradition. Yet Allah considers the breath of a fasting person \u2014 which may seem unpleasant to people \u2014 to be even more beloved to Him. This is because it is a\u00a0<strong>physical sign of worship and sacrifice<\/strong>\u00a0done purely for His sake.<\/p>\n<h2>Additional Merits of Fasting in Ramadan<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond this extraordinary Hadith, fasting in Ramadan carries many more incredible blessings:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Gates of Paradise are opened<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the Prophet \ufdfa said that in Ramadan, the gates of Jannah are flung open<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Gates of Hellfire are closed<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the gates of Jahannam are shut throughout Ramadan<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Shayateen are chained<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the devils are restrained, making it easier to worship and avoid sin<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Laylatul Qadr<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the Night of Power, hidden in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, is better than\u00a0<strong>1,000 months<\/strong>\u00a0of worship<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Complete forgiveness of past sins<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the Prophet \ufdfa said whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have their past sins forgiven<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Spiritual detox<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Ramadan purifies the heart, resets habits, and renews a Muslim\u2019s commitment to Allah<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Empathy for the poor<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 experiencing hunger builds compassion and gratitude for Allah\u2019s blessings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Who is Exempt From Fasting?<\/h2>\n<p>Islam is a religion of mercy. The following people are\u00a0<strong>exempt from fasting<\/strong>\u00a0under certain conditions:<\/p>\n<table width=\"778\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Ruling<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Travelers<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>May break fast and make up the days later<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Sick individuals<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>May break fast and make up days when recovered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Pregnant women<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>May break fast if fasting poses a risk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Breastfeeding mothers<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>May break fast if needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Elderly (unable to fast)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>May pay Fidyah (feeding a poor person per day) instead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Menstruating women<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Must break fast and make up the missed days later<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Allah says in the Qur\u2019an:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAllah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<strong>Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>The Spiritual Purpose of Fasting \u2014 Achieving Taqwa<\/h2>\n<p>The Qur\u2019an tells us the ultimate goal of fasting is\u00a0<strong>Taqwa<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 but what exactly is Taqwa?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Taqwa<\/strong>\u00a0can be defined as:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cA state of the heart in which a person is constantly aware of Allah, fears His displeasure, loves His pleasure, and guards themselves against sin \u2014 in every moment of their life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Fasting builds Taqwa because it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trains the\u00a0<strong>self-control<\/strong>\u00a0needed to resist sin<\/li>\n<li>Increases\u00a0<strong>awareness of Allah<\/strong>\u00a0throughout every hour of the day<\/li>\n<li>Strengthens the\u00a0<strong>willpower<\/strong>\u00a0to choose obedience over desire<\/li>\n<li>Reminds the believer that\u00a0<strong>Allah is always watching<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 even when no one else is<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Summary \u2014 Merits of Fasting at a Glance<\/h2>\n<table width=\"724\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Merit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Evidence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Personally rewarded by Allah<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Purest act of sincerity (Ikhlas)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Two moments of joy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Breath more beloved than musk<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Past sins forgiven<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Gates of Jannah opened<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Hadith (Bukhari &amp; Muslim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Achieves Taqwa<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Laylatul Qadr \u2014 1,000 months of reward<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Surah Al-Qadr (97:3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Sawm (fasting)<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the most powerful and beloved acts of worship a Muslim can perform. It is the\u00a0<strong>third pillar of Islam<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a pillar that purifies the soul, strengthens the heart, builds Taqwa, and earns a reward that only Allah Himself can measure.<\/p>\n<p>As Allah proclaimed in the Hadith Qudsi:\u00a0<em>\u201cFasting is for Me, and I will personally grant its reward.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 there is no greater motivation for a Muslim to embrace Ramadan with full sincerity, dedication, and joy.<\/p>\n<p>May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta\u2019ala) allow us to witness many Ramadans, accept our fasting with the highest reward, purify our hearts, forgive all our sins, and make us among the people of\u00a0<strong>Taqwa<\/strong>. May He, by His infinite Mercy, grant us all entry into\u00a0<strong>Jannah<\/strong>.\u00a0<em>Ameen, Ya Rabbal \u2018Alameen.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Jazakallahu Khayran!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Tags: third pillar of Islam, Sawm in Islam, Siyam meaning in English, fasting in Ramadan, importance of fasting in Islam, merits of fasting hadith, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183, Taqwa meaning, Ramadan fasting rules, what breaks the fast in Islam, who is exempt from fasting<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Every year, over\u00a01.8 billion Muslims\u00a0around the world embrace one of the most spiritually transformative acts &hellip; <a title=\"The Third Pillar of Islam: Understanding Fasting in in the month of Ramadan\" class=\"hm-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abuhashim.com\/en\/the-third-pillar-of-islam-understanding-fasting-in-in-the-month-of-ramadan\/\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Third Pillar of Islam: Understanding Fasting in in the month of Ramadan<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":95,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[7,6],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiqh","tag-fiqh","tag-islamic-studies"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Third Pillar of Islam: Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan) Explained<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand Sawm, the third pillar of Islam \u2014 its meaning, Quranic evidence, merits of fasting, what breaks the fast, and who is exempt.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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