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Sawm (Fasting): Difference between revisions
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'''Sawm''' (صوم) is the [[Arabic]] word which refers to [[Islam|Islamic]] [[fasting]]. The observance of sawm during the Islamic month of Ramadan is one of the [[Five Pillars of Islam]] and therefore a compulsory ([[fard]] فرض) duty. | '''Sawm''' (صوم) is the [[Arabic]] word which refers to [[Islam|Islamic]] [[fasting]]. The observance of sawm during the Islamic month of Ramadan is one of the [[Five Pillars of Islam]] and therefore a compulsory ([[fard]] فرض) duty. | ||
==Salient | ==Salient features== | ||
The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
*Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | *Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | ||
==Adverse | ==Adverse effects== | ||
The [[Adverse Effects of Islamic Fasting|adverse effects of Islamic fasting]] are vast and encompass such issues as; [[health]], national economy and productivity, crime rates, public safety and social behavior. In practice, Islamic fasting is unlike medical fasting. It is more accurately described as delayed eating; Muslims simply turn their eating habits upside down and gorge at dusk and at dawn. | The [[Adverse Effects of Islamic Fasting|adverse effects of Islamic fasting]] are vast and encompass such issues as; [[health]], national economy and productivity, crime rates, public safety and social behavior. In practice, Islamic fasting is unlike medical fasting. It is more accurately described as delayed eating; Muslims simply turn their eating habits upside down and gorge at dusk and at dawn. | ||
===Other | ===Other religions=== | ||
Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast. Meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> | Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast. Meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> | ||
==Binge | ==Binge eating== | ||
Binge eating is a common habit during Ramadan.<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.khaleejtimes.com%2FDisplayArticleNew.asp%3Fcol%3D%26section%3Dtheuae%26xfile%3Ddata%2Ftheuae%2F2008%2FSeptember%2Ftheuae_September167.xml&date=2011-07-12 <!-- http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2008/September/theuae_September167.xml -->Dietitian Advises Selective Eating Habits During Ramadan] - Khaleej Times Online, September 7, 2008</ref> For example, in Egypt, national statistics point to a substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.<ref>Abdel-Moneim Said - [{{Reference archive|1=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/963/op11.htm|2=2011-08-28}} Wasting Ramadan] - Al-Ahram Weekly, September 3, 2009</ref> Similarly in Doha, [[Qatar]], almost 8,000 cases of indigestion were recorded at the Hamad Medical Hospital emergency room solely in the first week of Ramadan 2011, due to "most of the population sleeping during the day" and eating "large feasts".<ref name="ANSMarch132012Ram">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2012/03/13/visualizza_new.html_131156617.html|2=2012-03-15}} Qatar: surge in diabetes/obesity, unhealthy Arab habits] - ANSAmed, March 13, 2012</ref> | Binge eating is a common habit during Ramadan.<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.khaleejtimes.com%2FDisplayArticleNew.asp%3Fcol%3D%26section%3Dtheuae%26xfile%3Ddata%2Ftheuae%2F2008%2FSeptember%2Ftheuae_September167.xml&date=2011-07-12 <!-- http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2008/September/theuae_September167.xml -->Dietitian Advises Selective Eating Habits During Ramadan] - Khaleej Times Online, September 7, 2008</ref> For example, in Egypt, national statistics point to a substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.<ref>Abdel-Moneim Said - [{{Reference archive|1=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/963/op11.htm|2=2011-08-28}} Wasting Ramadan] - Al-Ahram Weekly, September 3, 2009</ref> Similarly in Doha, [[Qatar]], almost 8,000 cases of indigestion were recorded at the Hamad Medical Hospital emergency room solely in the first week of Ramadan 2011, due to "most of the population sleeping during the day" and eating "large feasts".<ref name="ANSMarch132012Ram">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2012/03/13/visualizza_new.html_131156617.html|2=2012-03-15}} Qatar: surge in diabetes/obesity, unhealthy Arab habits] - ANSAmed, March 13, 2012</ref> | ||
== | ==Animal slaughter== | ||
Once the month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims then observe Eid ul-Fitr ("Festival of Fast-Breaking"), a day to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Eid celebrations include the unprecedented large-scale slaughter of at least a hundred million [[animals]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adha#Traditions_and_practices|title= Eid ul-Adha/ Traditions and practices|publisher= Wikipedia|author= |date= accessed October 18, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEid_ul-Adha%23Traditions_and_practices&date=2013-10-18|deadurl=no}}</ref> In the Netherlands alone, which has little over a million Muslims, a 100,000 animals were slaughtered in 2010 for Eid al-Adha ("Festival of Sacrifice").<ref>[http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=214020 <!-- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabna.ir%2Fdata.asp%3Flang%3D3%26Id%3D214020&date=2011-06-01 -->Netherland Muslims slaughtered 100,000 animals for Eid ul-Adha] - Ahlul Bayt News, November 21, 2010</ref> And in Pakistan, 7.5 million animals (2.5 million cows and 5 million goats) were slaughtered.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.travelwireasia.com/2010/11/bakra-eid-the-cost-of-sacrifice/|title= Bakra Eid: The cost of sacrifice|publisher= Travel Wire Asia|author= |date= November 16, 2010|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travelwireasia.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fbakra-eid-the-cost-of-sacrifice%2F&date=2013-10-18<!-- http://archive.is/i2qSF -->|deadurl=no}}</ref> Muslim [[children]] are often made to watch this slaughter.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arabnews.com/news/468058|title= Celebrating Eid Al-Adha in the US|publisher= Arab News|author= Sameen Tahir-Khan|date= October 18, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnews%2F468058&date=2013-10-18|deadurl=no}}</ref> | Once the month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims then observe Eid ul-Fitr ("Festival of Fast-Breaking"), a day to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Eid celebrations include the unprecedented large-scale slaughter of at least a hundred million [[animals]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adha#Traditions_and_practices|title= Eid ul-Adha/ Traditions and practices|publisher= Wikipedia|author= |date= accessed October 18, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEid_ul-Adha%23Traditions_and_practices&date=2013-10-18|deadurl=no}}</ref> In the Netherlands alone, which has little over a million Muslims, a 100,000 animals were slaughtered in 2010 for Eid al-Adha ("Festival of Sacrifice").<ref>[http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=214020 <!-- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabna.ir%2Fdata.asp%3Flang%3D3%26Id%3D214020&date=2011-06-01 -->Netherland Muslims slaughtered 100,000 animals for Eid ul-Adha] - Ahlul Bayt News, November 21, 2010</ref> And in Pakistan, 7.5 million animals (2.5 million cows and 5 million goats) were slaughtered.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.travelwireasia.com/2010/11/bakra-eid-the-cost-of-sacrifice/|title= Bakra Eid: The cost of sacrifice|publisher= Travel Wire Asia|author= |date= November 16, 2010|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travelwireasia.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fbakra-eid-the-cost-of-sacrifice%2F&date=2013-10-18<!-- http://archive.is/i2qSF -->|deadurl=no}}</ref> Muslim [[children|childrn]] are often made to watch this slaughter.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arabnews.com/news/468058|title= Celebrating Eid Al-Adha in the US|publisher= Arab News|author= Sameen Tahir-Khan|date= October 18, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnews%2F468058&date=2013-10-18|deadurl=no}}</ref> | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||