Types of Sawm in Islam

by Ady Grewal Content writer

Sawm or Fasting has tremendous significance in Islam, and it is the third pillar of Islam which is compulsory to acknowledge otherwise no one could enter in the circle of Islam.

"Indeed We have revealed it (Qur'an) in the night of Power. And what will explain to you what the night of Power is? The night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein descends the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrael) by Allah's permission, on every errand: (they say) "Peace" (continuously) till the rise of Morning!" (Al-Quran 97:1-5). And numbers of families from the UK go to the holy sanctuary of Mecca through December Umrah packages to get more than seventy-time reward.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzayma]

There are different kinds of Sawm in Islam in which some are obligatory, voluntary and penalty. Let’s see what difference among them is:

Obligatory Fasting

These are the Sawm which is Fard (mandatory) both to men and women at their adult age. In the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “O believers! Sawm (Fasting) has been prescribed to you, as these were prescribed before you, so that you may pick up self-will”. (Al-Quran)

Obligatory Fasting is kept in the Holy month of Ramadan which is started from before the occurrence of the white line of the day and ends its decline. “And eat and drink until the white line of the day seems. Hence complete your fast until the dusk”. (Al-Quran)

That is the reason people from the UK by hajj Umrah travel agents London keep voluntary Sawm in the Holy Kaaba.

Voluntary Fasting

Even though such Sawm is kept in the whole year except some prohibited days, however, Muslims keep them in some particular Islamic traditions such as:

• Friday

• 13th, 14th, 15th day of the Islamic calendar

• The day of Ashura (1oth of Muharram)

• Six days of Shawwal

Penalty Fasting

These are the Fasting which is kept because of compensating as punishment in Islam. For example, breaking the oath or breaking the mandatory fasting, etc. However, there is relaxation in them in the form of feeding, clothing or freeing the slave.