Fasting in Islam

Lore & Background

Fasting in Islam has origins in earlier religious traditions, as the Quran states: 'O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.' Religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism have long practiced fasting. Some scholars, including historian Philip Jenkins and theologian Paul-Gordon Chandler, suggest that Ramadan was inspired by the strict Lenten discipline of the Syrian Churches. Verse 5:95 permits fasting as expiation for certain sins. The Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan, specifically on the Night of Power, observed in one of the last 10 nights of the month. Fasting requires a sincere intention (niyyah) made the night before each day. Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset, and must also avoid indecent speech, arguing, and lustful thoughts. Exemptions include sickness, pregnancy, menstruation, nursing, or travel; missed fasts are made up later or compensated by feeding the needy.

Reader's Guide

Fasting in Islam is a central act of worship that reinforces spiritual discipline and community solidarity. As the fourth pillar of Islam, it is obligatory for all able Muslims during Ramadan, shaping daily life for a full lunar month. The practice fosters self-control and empathy for the poor, as Muslims experience hunger and thirst firsthand. The Quranic basis for fasting emphasizes its continuity with earlier faiths, linking Muslims to a broader tradition of penitence and purification. Exemptions for the sick, elderly, pregnant, nursing, menstruating, or traveling demonstrate Islam's practical consideration for human frailty. The requirement to make up missed fasts or provide fidyah (feeding the needy) ensures that the obligation remains meaningful without causing undue hardship. Fasting also serves as expiation for certain sins, such as breaking a vow or hunting during pilgrimage. The Night of Power, when the Quran was revealed, adds a layer of spiritual significance, with Muslims seeking its blessings in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Overall, fasting is not merely abstention but a comprehensive exercise in moral and spiritual growth.

Did You Know?

• Fasting in Islam is called ṣawm or ṣiyām in Arabic.
• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar.
• The Quran states that fasting was prescribed for Muslims as it was for those before them.
• Exemptions from fasting include illness, travel, pregnancy, menstruation, and nursing.

The Emergence of a Shared Label

The term "Abrahamic religions" is a relatively modern construction, first appearing in the latter half of the twentieth century. It was designed to replace the older phrase "Judeo-Christian," which excluded Islam and failed to acknowledge the theological distinctions between Judaism and Christianity. By centering Abraham as a unifying patriarchal figure, the new label brought together the three largest monotheistic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—alongside smaller traditions like the Baháʼí Faith, the Druze faith, Rastafari, and Samaritanism. The term has since become a staple in interfaith dialogue, civil discourse, and academic scholarship. Its plural form traces back to a Quranic reference to dīn Ibrāhīm, the "religion of Abraham," while the Catholic scholar Louis Massignon was among the early voices to frame the grouping as pointing toward a single spiritual source. Despite its widespread adoption, the label remains a twentieth-century neologism rather than an ancient theological category.

Abraham as a Unifying Thread

Across the major Abrahamic traditions, the figure of Abraham functions as a point of theological convergence, though the specific claims each faith makes about him differ considerably. In Islam, the religion has conceived of itself from its founding as the "religion of Abraham," a self-identification rooted in Quranic language. In Christianity, the Apostle Paul, writing in Romans, describes Abraham as the "father of all" who have faith, whether circumcised or not. The Baháʼí Faith traces its founder Baháʼu'lláh's lineage back to Abraham through the sons of his wife Keturah. Judaism, meanwhile, holds that the Twelve Tribes of Israel descend from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. Proponents of the Abrahamic framework argue that all seven recognized traditions are ultimately united through the deity Abraham worshipped, with shared themes of creation, revelation, and redemption providing a common theological vocabulary, even as the specific doctrines diverge sharply.

Scholarly Pushback and Theological Tensions

The grouping of these faiths under one umbrella has drawn sustained criticism from scholars across multiple disciplines. Adam Dodds contends that while the label is useful, it implies a depth of historical and theological commonality that does not withstand scrutiny, effectively masking irreconcilable doctrinal differences. Alan Berger, a Judaic studies professor, emphasized in 2012 that although Judaism gave rise to both Christianity and Islam, the three traditions have since gone their separate ways, each interpreting Abraham through fundamentally different theological lenses. Aaron Hughes goes further, calling the term "imprecise" and "largely a theological neologism," noting that before the twentieth century, the adjective "Abrahamic" appeared almost exclusively within Christian supersessionist discourse. Concrete doctrinal divides underscore these concerns: the Incarnation, Trinity, and resurrection of Jesus are rejected by both Judaism and Islam, while dietary prohibitions like the ban on pork are absent from mainstream Christian teaching.

Judaism's Theological Journey from Covenant to Monotheism

Within the broader Abrahamic framework, Judaism's relationship to Abraham is foundational yet distinct. Jewish tradition holds that the Twelve Tribes descend from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whose sons established the Israelite nation in Canaan. In its earliest phase, the Israelite religion, known as Yahwism, shared characteristics with Bronze Age Canaanite religious practices. By the Iron Age, it had differentiated itself, moving from polytheistic elements toward monolatry—the exclusive worship of Yahweh while not necessarily denying other deities' existence. The relationship between the Israelites and Yahweh was understood as a covenant, with the deity promising Abraham a permanent homeland. A pivotal shift occurred during the Babylonian captivity, when Jewish theologians reattributed the six-day creation narrative entirely to Yahweh, reflecting an emerging view of him as a universal deity. After the Fall of Babylon, this monolatrist foundation was further developed into firm monotheism, and concepts such as messianism were incorporated into the evolving religious tradition.