What is the Meaning Of Roza (Sawm)
The Roza is an Arabic word that is also known as Sawm meaning “to avoid”. After the Tawheed, Salah, & Zakat, fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. The elaboration of Roza is to restrain from all kinds of bad and sinful activities, eating, and drinking. The Muslims around the globe experience fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan.
The Description Of A Fast
The fasting is observed by Muslims after the month of Shaban, in Ramadan. There are 29 or 30 Rozas in a single month and the month is ended by the sightedness of the Shawwal crescent where the believers celebrate the festive of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Observing the Roza doesn’t only mean to restrain from food and drinks only but it expands to avoiding sins, bad deeds, smoking, drinking, and other forbidden activities. A believer must keep away from all of these things to observe a fast completely !!
The Prestigious Month Of Ramadan & Its Significance
The month of Ramadan is the most esteemed and holy month for the believers of Islam. Besides fasting, this month marks us with some other significances that include the revelation of the Holy Quran this month which is why this month is also termed the “Holy Quran Month”. Furthermore, The Night of Power (Laylat ul Qadar) is also associated with this month. The special rewards for Suhoor and Iftar are also outstretched in the month of Ramadan.
The Fourth Pillar Of Islam In The Quran
Roza and its importance are marked at various events in the Holy Quran. Verse 183 of Surah Baqarah highlights sawm as:
Oh, you who believe! Fasting is authorized to you as it was authorized to those before you, so that you may learn devotion and righteousness.”
Similarly, verse 184 of Surah Baqarah says about Roza that:
“The fast is indeed best for you if only you knew.”
Roza In The Hadiths
The Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) depicted fast as:
“When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained”. (Kitab Al Sawm Book 6, Number 2361)
The Messenger (SAW) also stated about Roza that:
“Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Imam Bukhari)
Benefits Of Fasting In The Month Of Ramadan
There are adequate benefits of observing a fast, they can be listed down as:
- The Roza teaches us the concept of patience
- The Roza helps us to improve our sleep and other mental disorders
- Fasting is a better way to nourish us mentally & physically
- It explains to us the inflation problems
- Fasting in the month of Ramadan add up to our rewards
- It saves us from the evildoings
- Because of Roza, one condemns to control his desires
- Fasting helps us to strengthen our blood pressure and metabolism
- Observing fast keeps a believer closer to Allah
- It also initiates us the concept of equality and thanksgiving
Types Of Roza / Sawm
There are 6 further types of fasting. They include:
Obligatory Fasting~The Saum that is observed in the month of Ramadan is the obligatory one.
Sunnah Fasts~ Observing the fasts of Ashura, 9th Zilhaj, and 13th,14th, and 15th of every Islamic Lunar year are Sunnah fastings.
Wajib Fasting~ Fasting for the fulfillment of any promise or woe falls under this category
Optional Rozas: Fasting for the good conduct like fasting on 6 days of Shawal, fasting on Monday & Thursday, and on the 15th of Shaban falls in this category
Makrooh/Bad Conduct Fasting~Fasting for a wife or fasting without husband’s permission (non-obligatory) is Makrooh fasting
Forbidden Fasts~ The Rozas observed on both days of Eid, and 11,12, and 13th of Zilhaj are forbidden fasts.
Conditions For Fasting
The religion Islam has prescribed some must-to-follow conditions for keeping the Roza, to fully benefit from fasting, one must follow these traits.
- One must be healthy to keep a Roza
- It is better not to observe fast if you are traveling or sick
- Women can’t fast during their birth periods
- One must be of proper age for this obligation
Some Additional Facts
There are some minor facts about fasting that lead to mass confusion. Like, if someone had accidentally swallowed some drink or eaten something by mistake then his fast is not invalidated, but if it is done with proper intentions then he will not be rewarded for such actions.
Also accidentally swallowing your saliva, or dust particles won’t affect invalidations. Moreover, it is recommended to not use pastes or inner mouth creams during fasts.
Besides, this one can use injections or medical suppositories or insulin for medical doses that won’t affect the Roza.
