Giving up something or preventing yourself from something.
Meaning of Sawm from Islamic Point of View
To give up eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala).
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When Fasting Became Necessary
Fasting is one of the most important pillars of Islam.
It was about 1/2 years after the migration of Rasulullah (Sall'Allahu alayhi wasalam) to the city of Madina
that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) ordered all Muslims to fast in the month of Ramadan.
Giving up fasting in the month of Ramadan is a punishable sin (gunnah).
(unless the reason for giving up the fast are allowed - explained further below).
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Exemption(Being Excused) from Fasting
• Ill/Sick People
Those who are seriously ill don't have to fast, but they have to do one of the two things listed below:
1. Pay Fidya, which means giving money to a poor/less fortunate person.
The money should be enough to buy food for 30 days and cover atleast 1 full meal (preferably 2 meals) for each day.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) rewards both;
a person who gives fidya and a person who fasts with the benefit of fidya, insha'Allah.
2. Sometimes, when the sickness is short & temporary,
meaning the person isn't ill permanently,
the person will need to fast for the number of days that were missed, later on.
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Exemption(Being Excused) from Fasting
• The Aged or With Poor Health Condition
People who are elderly/aged or have a poor health condition don't have to fast, but they should pay fidya if they can afford it.
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Exemption(Being Excused) from Fasting
• Those Who Are Traveling
A person can skip fasting during a long trip, but they will need to fast for the number of days that were missed, later on.
Notes:
1. If you don't plan on fasting, then make sure you leave home (on the day you're traveling) before sunrise.
2.If you didn't fast and returned home before sunset; make sure you don't start eating before sunset.
This is the respect that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) wants you to observe for the people who are fasting.
3. These exemptions are for our convenience.
But if a person makes an extra effort to fast while traveling,
he/she will rank very high in the vision of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala).
Also, traveling has gotten a lot easier in comparison to 1400 years ago;
now a days, people travel in airplanes & cars, back then they traveled on camels & by foot.