The Fourth Pillar of Islaam

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Fasting in Ramadhaan:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ}

{O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon} [Surah al-Baqarah (2):183]

Meaning: Linguistically: It means to withhold / abstain / refrain. As Allaah تعالى says:

{فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا}

{Say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allaah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day} [Surah Maryam (19): 26]

So abstaining from talking has been referred to as fasting.

Shar`ee meaning: Abstaining from certain things at a certain time by a certain group of people.

In other words: Abstaining from all the things that break the fast during the daytime in the month of Ramadhaan.

What it implies: It is the worship of Allaah تبارك وتعالى with the intention of abstaining from food and drink and withholding the body from sins and disobedience and all that which breaks the fast, starting from Fajr till the Sunset.

Benefits: Disciplining the self to leave off that which it loves (from the food and desires), seeking with it the pleasure of Allaah.