이슬람교의 단식에 관한 연구

A Study onthe Fasting in Islam

Fasting(Saum) is one of the five pillars of Islam, which means to abstain completely from foods, drinks, intimate intercourses and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset, during the entire month of Ramdan, the ninth month of the Islamic year. Fasting during the Ramadan is considered that it is an act of worship and it has many benefits and rewards, among them: it gives the digestive organs a rest, it teaches patience, self-control, creates the inclination to ward off evil, and gives a shelter from hell-fire. It is also said that whoever observed fasting in Ramadan, he will have his previous sins forgiven, and when Ramadan starts, the doors of heaven are opened, and the doors of hell are closed. The prohibited days of fasting are the first day of either the two feasts(Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha), the three days following the day of Immolation(the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah), days of menstruation and puerperium. And the prohibited muslims of fasting are the traveller, the aged, the pregnant and the breast-feeding or the foster mother. The encouraged days for fasting except Ramadan are the 13th, 14th, 15th of every lunar month, Monday and Thursday, six days in Shawwal, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of Arafah(the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah) for those who are not performed Hajj.