The Pillar of ‘Sawm’ (Roza/Fasting)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ، أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍفَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْإِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

'O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it, is a kaffaarat, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.'

(Surat al-Baqara: 183-184)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.

The Quranic Ayat quoted above is the one with which Syedna Qadi al-Nu’man begins his chapter on the 5^th of the Pillars of Islam (Da’aimul Islam), “Sawn” (roza/fasting). In Islam the farizat rozas are once every year for 30 days during the month of Allah, Shehre Ramadan.

In this chapter, Syedna Qadi al-Nu’man narrates that Imam Ja’farus Sadiq said that fasting in Shehrullah is a compulsory obligation and farizat in every year. The bare minimum by which this obligation is fulfilled is when a Mumin does rozu with heartfelt conviction and sincere intention, and also refrains from food, drink and intercourse throughout the time of rozu (daytime). To fulfill this farizat, one must also “fast” with all his/her limbs and organs - or in other words safeguard them from that which Allah Ta’ala has made Haraam (e.g. slandering, back-biting, stealing, hitting, lying etc) and thereby he/she becomes closer to Allah Ta’ala with his/her good actions.

Syedna Qadi al-Nu’man then quotes Maulatuna Fatema AS, “what good is ones roza if he does not safeguard his tongue, ears, eyes and limbs [from all that is haraam].”

Syedna Qadi al-Nu’man also quotes another statement by Imam Ja’farus Sadiq in which, among other things, the Imam says that, “there is no [valid] roza for one who disobeys the Imam.”

We praise Allah Ta’ala and fulfill this obligation by obeying the Imam of our age through obedience and Ta’at of his Dai, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin. We pray to Allah Ta’ala to grant us the strength to perform rozas in this holiest of months, not just by refraining from food and drink, but also by safeguarding our tongue, ears, limbs from all that is haraam, in obedience to our Dai and our Imam.