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sawm
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Sawm
Fasting undertaken during the month of Ramadan; it is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. For 29–30 days, between sunrise and sunset, no food or drink, sexual relations, or comforts such as chewing gum or cigarettes are allowed. The suhur (pre-dawn meal) is eaten, followed by reading from the Koran (or Quran or Qur'an) until dawn. After sunset, friends and relatives are visited and feasting takes place, the first small meal being Iftar.
Muslims believe that sawm helps them to develop self-control, increase their spiritual strength, have some understanding for those who suffer, and increase their sense of belonging to one community. Fasting becomes especially difficult in countries far from the equator in summer, when daylight may last 18 hours. Muslims whose lives would be put at risk because of their age, sickness, or circumstances (such as being on a long journey by foot), are exempt from sawm.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
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sawm
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wudu
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Abraham
Adam (biblical)
adhan
afterlife
akhirah
Allah
angel (religion)
chador
creation
Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Fitr
Eve
fatwa
Five Pillars of Islam
Gabriel
hafiz
hajj
halal
haram
Isa
Ishmael
Islam
Islam ethics
Jesus
jihad
jinni
Judgement Day
Lailat ul-Qadr
Mahdi
Mawlid an-Nabi
Mecca
Moses
Muhammad
Night Journey
Noah
prophet
purdah
qadr
rak'ah
Ramadan
risalah
salat
Salat al-Jum'ah
sawm
shahadah
Shari'a
Shiite
Sufism
Sunna
Sunni
Taliban
tauhid
wudu
zakat
Micronesia, Federated States of Flag
The stars represent the states of Pohnpei, Kosrae, Yap, and Chuuk. The blue field is said to represent the Pacific Ocean. Effective date: 30 November 1978.
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