A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Sawm – Fasting of Ramadan
~ 32 ~
FASTING AT TIMES OTHER THAN RAMADAN
Fasting in Islam is undertaken more often than simply during
Ramadan. The notion of
kaffara
, atonement for sin or for duties
which have been omitted, is stipulated in the Qur’an on a number
of occasions: in chapter 2/196, fasting is to replace the pilgrimage
for those unable to go to Mecca under certain conditions; in
Qur’an 5/89, fasting is prescribed for breaking an oath; in Qur’an
5/95, fasting is the penalty for killing an animal while on the hajj. In
each of these situations, fasting is seen as making amends for one’s
moral or ritual errors.
Additional fasting is also practised on the ninth and tenth of
Muharram; during the six days from the second to the seventh of
shawwal and on the ninth of Dhu al Hijja for those who are not on
pilgrimage. Additional fasting is also observed on the twenty
seventh of Rajab, the fifteenth of Sha‘aban and three days of every
month of the lunar calendar.
