SAUM

Etymology

Saum is an arabic word for fasting regulated by islamic jurisprudence. The observance of Saum during
the islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam

Definition

Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in sexual intercourse from dawn
(Fajr) to sunset(Magrib). Fasting is essentially an attempt to seek nearness to Allah and increase one’s
piety. Fasting is also viewed as a means of controlling ones’s desires ( of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger)
and focusing more on devoting oneself to Allah

Versus in the Qur’an about Fasting:

Saum is a physical worship, about its obligattion; says Allah in Holy Qur’an:

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may
(Learn) self restraint” (Al-Baqarah: 183)

“So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting” (Al-
Baqarah: 185)

Importance of Saum as narrated in the Hadith:

1. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said:

“ He who fasts solely for the sake of iman and thawab, his previous sins are forgiven”
2. It is narrated in the Hadith that on the Day of Qayamah, even before Reckoning has taken place,
the fasting people will be sumptuously fed under the shade of Allah’s Arsh (Throne) whole
others will be still embroiled in the hardships of Reckoning.
3. “Saum is a shield and a powerful fort to save one from Jahannam”
4. The Holy Prophet(S.A.W) said” Every good deed of the son of Adam (A.S) is increased (in reward)
from ten times to seven hundred times- and Allah said: ‘Except Saum, for verily, it (Saum) is for
ME and I, Myself will reward it. The Sa-im abstains from desire and foor the My sake.’ For the
Sa-im there are two occasions of pleasure- pleasure at the time of breaking fast and pleasure at
the time of meeting his Rabb”

Thawab of Fasting

The Holy Propher (S.A.W) said: “ the person who gives a Sa-im something with which to break his
fast, will receive the thawab of the fast while nothing will be reduce of the Sa-im’s fast. This thawab
will apply even if some water is presented with which to break fast.” (Hadith)
Objective of Saum

Saum is a physical worship. It is not a penance, but tried and proven way of teaching us that nothing
in life comes easilty but that with effort and sacrifice we can become masters of ourselves and, in so
doing, become humble servants of Allah. Abu Hurairah (R.A) reported: The Propher (S.A.W) said,” If
one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food
and his drink.” (Al-Bukhari)

This Hadith exhorts those observing Saum to fulfill all the requirements of fasting. One should not
conduct himself in such a manner that on the one side he observes Saum and on the other he is
fearless of Allah. To save himself from Allah’s Wrath and to get the reward of the fasts, one must
abstain from all sorts of vices such as cheating, lying, backbiting, and using obsence language. The
threat held against such people in this Hadith should make them fear that their Saum will go waste
and they would be deprived of its reward

BENEFITS OF SAUM
There are numerous benefits, both spiritual and physical, of fasting on human personally and
collective life. These are:

1. Taqwa
“Taqwa” is a particular state of the heart which, when attained to, prevents one from
evil deeds and sins and he becomes voracious doer of virtues. This is the very object of
fast that such an excellence should develop in human being
2. Purity of Self (Tazkiya-e-Nafs)
For the acquition of the numerous benefits of Siyam, there is ,however, one vital
condition, viz; abstention from sin and futility. Sin and futility negate the beneficial
effects of fasting
3. Self control
Saum has a positive impact on the individual. It is an ibadat that teaches sel-control. It
trains a person to survive without satisfying the usual desires. A fasting person is able to
control the food instint, perhaps the most powerful human instinct
4. Saum as Compassion
Saum has the further advantage that it teaches compassion for the poor and the hungry
in a practical way. The wealthy that fast taste of hunger and can appreciate the cry for
help from the poor and less privileged. Without this obligatory fasting the wealthy
would never taste physical hunger
5. Moderation
Fasting engenders a feeling for the poor. Man becomes more conscious of his less
fortunate brethren and their hardships. He thus learns the lesson of sacrificing some of
his wealth to aid others in need. He inculcates in him feeling for humanity.
6. Unity and Harmony
Saum originates in man the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, if
equality before Allah as well as before the law. The spirit is the natual product of the
fact that when man fasts, he feels that he is joining the muslim society in observing the
same duty in the same manner at the same time for the same motives to the same end.
No sociologist can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable
to this fine institution of Islam
7. Physical Health
Fasting also has health benefits. It purifies the body, al saum zakat al jism (Al Majah).
Saum teaches control of the food appetite and prevents diseases of over nutrition. The
focus shold be looked on the long term benefits that a fasting person gets from
strengthening will power and stopping eating or smoking even if they feel like to eat
more