The Qur‘an: an Encyclopedia
Fasting or sawm is regarded in the 
as very important. It helps us control our physical urges and trains us to obey the Word of God. A major fast runs from the sighting of the new moon that begins the month of Ramadan to the end of the lunar month: ‘Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn self-restraint’ (2.183).
The ninth Islamic month is called Ramadan and fasting is prescribed in that month. By fajr (dawn) the fasting starts, until the time dusk falls; every dusk iftar occurs when the fast finishes, and right at the end is the Eid al-Fitr. Fasting brings our life into a state of submission and surrender to the law of the creator. In the 
fasting is mentioned twelve more times and clearly plays an important role in helping human beings align themselves with virtue and reject evil. Patience is a key 
virtue and restraining our natural desires is an excellent way of inculcating virtue in our characters.
See also: Ramadan; sabr; salat
OLIVER LEAMAN
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