Saum (Fasting) means to keep away from eating, drinking and the sexual act from dawn to sunset. Saum is compulsory for every Muslim during the month of Ramadān.

Sūrah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) II , Ayāt 183 till 185:

Saum is both a physical and a spiritual exercise. The person who is Saum is required to keep himself away from any act which displeases Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. He should not engage in any evil behaviour. He should not say bad things nor quarrel with anyone. If he does not control himself and avoid evil deeds, his Saum will not bring him any benefit nor any reward of Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala .

Saum throughout Ramadān trains one to control the desires. It also teaches one to discipline the behaviour. Saum helps one to strengthen his will-power. It also develops a person's endurance and steadfastness.

Saum provides Muslims with the opportunity to experience the hunger and the thirst suffered by many starving people in this world. Only in this way can Muslims learn and understand what it really feels like not have food or drink. A Muslim till then be able to show sympathy, and be prepared to help and support them. This is why  the Saum month of Ramadān is called 'The Month of Endurance and Sympathy".

Saum is the true manifestation of obedience to Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. The person who is Saum does so for the sake of Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. For this reason, Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has prepared a great reward for those who Saum. They will go into the Jannah (Heaven) though a special gate. The name of one of the gates of Paradise through which the people who often observe Saum will enter called the Bab Al Raiyyān

During the month of Ramadān, a special prayer is offered which is called Tarāwīh. Tarāwīh is an optional Salāt (prayers) offered after the 'Ishā' prayers on the nights of Ramadān. Parts of the Qur'ān Al Kareem are recited during Tarāwīh.  Usually, the recitation of the whole Qur'ān Al Kareem is completed by the end of the month.

The month of Ramadān is also important for another reason, In it is a very special night called Lailat-ul-Qadr. It was on this night that the Qur'ān Al Kareem was revealed. It is a night full of blessings. One of the odd last ten nights of the month of Saum (Saum) (i.e. Ramadān). Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala describes it as better than one thousand months, and the one who worships Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala during it by performing optional prayers and reciting the Qur'ān Al Kareem, ect. Will get a reward better than of worshipping Him Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala for one thousand months (i.e. 83 years and four months). (See Sahīh Al-Bukhāri, Hadīth No. 2014 and Chapter No. 1).

We are not told when exactly in Ramadān that night is, but the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam said that it was one of the odd-numbered nights in the last 10 days of Ramadān. He encouraged Muslims to spend most of their time in worshipping Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala in Ramadān, especially during the time when they might find Lailat-ul-Qadr.

Sūrah Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree) XCVII , Ayāt 1 till 5:

A day of celebration called 'Îd-al-Fitr comes at the end of Ramadān. Fitr literally means 'breaking the Saum. It is a day to rejoice the success of completing the moth of Saum. It is a happy occasion and is full of joy.

The day starts with a special prayer and reciting the words of praise and glory for Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Before going to the Id prayer, every Muslim is required to give Sadaqah-ul-Fitr for himself and his dependants. Sadaqah-ul-Fitr is the giving of either money and needy so that they could satisfy their needs on that day, and join in celebrating the day of joy and happiness. It is also meant to purify Saum in Ramadān from any fault or defect.

Sūrah Al-Hujrāt (The Dwellings) XLIX , Ayāt 13:

Article by Abū Redwan.

* = Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'ān Al Kareem. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Sūrah : Ayāt)  of the Qur'ān Al Kareem.  Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'ān Al Kareem can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.