Foundations of the religionA pillar of Islam

Fasting Ramadan

صوم رمضان

Keeping from food, drink and intimacy from dawn to sunset through the month of Ramadan.

Quran

Explained

The fourth pillar is fasting the month of Ramadan: keeping from food, drink and intimacy from the break of dawn until sunset, with the intention of fasting for Allah. It was prescribed as it was for those before us, so that we may become mindful of Allah (2:183).

It is required of every Muslim who is of age, of sound mind and able. The traveller and the sick may break the fast and make the days up later (2:184). Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith, hoping for its reward, has his past sins forgiven, the Prophet ﷺ said.

Evidence

QuranAl-Baqara (The Cow)Quran 2:183

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

183. O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting)[36] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2: 2).

[36] (V.2:183) As-Saum means fasting i.e. not to eat or drink or have sexual relations etc. from the Adhân of the Fajr (early morning) prayer till the sunset.

Read in context on Quran.com
Sahih

Sahih al-Bukhari 38

Grades
GraderVerdict
al-BukhariSahih (included by al-Bukhari in his Sahih) (Sahih)
Full narration

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven

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