Sawm is the Islamic name for fasting, one of the Five Pillars practiced during Ramadan.
During Ramadan, the obligatory fast generally requires abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset. The observance also emphasizes self-discipline, prayer, charity, and avoiding harmful or unethical behaviour.
Sawm is broader than Ramadan fasting because Muslims may also fast voluntarily at other times of the year. Ramadan fasting is especially significant because it is one of the Five Pillars, the basic acts and beliefs that structure Muslim religious life.
Islamic law provides exemptions or special arrangements for people such as children, travellers, pregnant or breastfeeding women, older people, and those who are ill, with details varying by circumstance and interpretation.