Fasting

fasting represented by sunrise and sunset as geometric halves

Fasting (Sawm) is observed during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

From dawn (fajr) until sunset (maghrib), adult Muslims abstain from:
- Food and drink
- Smoking
- Marital relations

Fasting is required for healthy adults, but exemptions exist for:
- children
- the elderly
- the sick
- travelers
- pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Others who may be harmed by fasting

The fast is broken each evening with a meal called iftar.
The pre-dawn meal is known as suhoor.
Ramadan is also a time of increased prayer, charity, and reading of the Qur’an.

The purpose goes beyond physical restraint and fasting aims to:
- Build self-discipline and patience
- Encourage gratitude for everyday blessings
- Foster empathy for those who experience hunger or hardship
- Promote moral awareness and self-control

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a festival marked by prayer, charity, and communal joy.

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