As-Siyam generally means "to abstain from something." For example, a verse in the
Qur'an says: "I have vowed to the Merciful to abstain--that is, from speaking.
What is meant here is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn
until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah).
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, saying: "Allah
said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely
for Me. I give the reward for it.' The fast is a shield. If one is fasting, he should
not use foul language, raise his voice, or behave foolishly. If someone reviles
him or fights with him he should say, 'I am fasting,' twice. By the One in whose
hand is the soul of Muhammad, the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better
in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk. The one
who is fasting is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it,
and when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he has fasted." This is related
by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa'i. A similar version was recorded by al-Bukhari and
Abu Dawud, but with the following addition: "He leaves his food, drink, and desires
for My sake. His fasting is for Me... I will give the reward for it, and for every
good deed, he will receive ten similar to it."
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:
"The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day
of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires
during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him
from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be
accepted." Ahmad related this hadith with a sahih chain.
Abu Umamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'Order me to do
a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He said: 'Stick to fasting, as there
is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting."'
This hadith is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim who classified it as sahih.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "No servant fasts
on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years
further away from his face." This is related by "the group," except for Abu Dawud.
Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet said: "There is a gate to Paradise that
is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: 'Where are those who
fasted?' When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked." This
is related by alBukhari and Muslim.
There are two types of fasting: obligatory and voluntary. Obligatory can be further
subdivided into the fast of Ramadan, the fast of expiation and the fast of fulfilling
a vow. Here we shall discuss the Ramadan and voluntary fasts.
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