Linguistically, fasting is the verbal noun of the verb meaning “to abstain.” An example is the statement of Allah:

“So eat and drink and be comforted. If you see anyone, say, ‘I have vowed a fast to the Most Merciful, so I will not speak to any human being today.’” [Maryam]

Thus, “a fast” here means abstaining from speech, as indicated by His words, “If you see anyone”—that is, if you see someone, then say: “I have vowed a fast to the Most Merciful,” meaning abstention from speech, “so I will not speak to any human being today.”

The expression is also used of the earth when it holds someone and conceals him.

In the Sacred Law, fasting means worshipping Allah by abstaining from food, drink, and everything else that invalidates the fast, from the break of dawn until sunset.

It is important to include the element of worship in the definition, for many jurists do not mention it. Rather, they say: abstaining from that which invalidates the fast from such-and-such a time until such-and-such a time. Likewise, in defining prayer, they say that it consists of prescribed words and actions. Yet the term “worship” should be added, so that it is not merely a set of movements or mere abstention, but an act of worship.

Its ruling is that it is obligatory, established by textual evidence and scholarly consensus.

Its rank in Islam is that it is one of its pillars; thus, it holds a position of immense importance in the religion of Islam.

Allah made fasting obligatory in the second year AH, by consensus. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, fasted nine Ramadans, by consensus. At first, fasting was made obligatory with a choice between fasting and feeding. The wisdom behind making it optional was gradualness in legislation, so that it would be easier to accept, as was the case with the prohibition of wine; then