The
Essentials Elements of
Siyam (Fasting)
Definition of Siyam (Fasting):
Siyam in Arabic means
"to abstain from something".
For example, Allah says
about Mariam (Mary) in
the Qur'an that she said
[meaning]: "Verily!, I
have vowed a fast to the
Most Beneficent (Allah)
so I shall not speak to
any human this day "[Maryam
19:26]. In religion (Islam)
Siyam means "abstaining
from food, drink, and
sexual intercourse from
dawn until sunset with
the sincere intention
of doing so (for the sake
of Allah). Therefore the
pillars of fasting are
:
1-The
Intention (Niyya):
To
sincerely fast for the
sake of Allah. The intension
need not be uttered. It
is in reality an act of
the heart which does not
involve the tongue. It
is a bid`ah [innovation]
to do so. The fact that
one knows he is fasting
the next day is "intention".
The fact of taking Suhoor
is "intention. About sincerity
in acts of worship Allah
said in the Qur'an [in
the meaning of]: "And
they were ordained nothing
else than to worship Allah,
keeping religion pure
for Him" [al-Bayyinah,
Also the Messenger of
Allah (S) said : Actions
are judged according to
the intention behind them,
and for everyone is what
he intended" [Bukhari
and Muslim]
The intention must be
made before fajr and during
every night of Ramadan
and is valid if made in
any part of the night.
Hafsah reported that the
Prophet (S) said: "Whoever
does not determine to
fast before fajr will
have no fast" (that is
it won't be accepted)
[an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi,
Abu Dawud, and others,
Sahih].
2-Abstaining
from the acts that break
the fast:
Allah
says in the Qur'an [in
the meaning of]: "Eat
and drink until the white
thread becomes distinct
to you from the black
thread of the dawn. Then
strictly observe the fast
until nightfall." [al-Baqara,
2:187]
`Adiyy Ibn Hatim said
"When the Ayah 'Eat and
drink until the white
thread becomes distinct
to you ... was revealed,
I took a black thread
and a white thread and
placed them underneath
my pillow. During the
night I looked at them
to if I could distinguish
between them. In the morning
I went the Messenger of
Allah and mentioned that
to him and he said: 'It
is the black of the night
and the white of the day.'
" [Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, the believer
must fast from Fajr [dawn]
to Maghrib [sunset].
