Sawm - fasting

Religious people have always used fasting as means of getting closer to God.  In Christianity fasting is not as widely practiced as it used to be but their are Christians who fast to make their prayers more effective and in some places of the world fasting in lent is an important Christian tradition.

The Qur'an teaches Muslims to fast as a sign of their devotion to God.  Sawm or fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam and it is therefore a must for every true Muslim.  Most Muslims practice fasting during the month of Ramadan.

What do Muslims do when they fast in Ramadan?

• Give up food and drink during daylight hours
  
• Give up sex during daylight hours
  
• Give up smoking during daylight hours
  
• Eat at night when the sun has set
  
• Rise before sunrise if they wish to eat breakfast
  
• Read the whole Qur'an over the thirty days of Ramadan
  
• Go to mosque at night for special prayers (called tarawih)
  
• Towards the end of ramadan celebrate the Night of Power (lailat al Qadr) at the mosque
  
• Try to live the best possible Muslim life

During Ramadan the meal at the end of the day takes on a special significance for Muslms.  For many it is a special family time when they join with other to remember how good Allah has been to them in providing them with homes, families, food and water.

The picture above shows a date seller.  Many Muslims break their fast with dates, because this is what the prophet Muhammad did.