And here is what the people of the exoteric have reported of what they claim, profess, and believe regarding their interpretation of the fasting (al-Siyam) commanded in the revealed books:

Know that fasting, according to their deviating opinion and their corrupt belief, is refraining from all apparent foods and drinks.

As for the opinion of the people of monotheism (Ahl al-Tawhid), the fasting which God Almighty commanded us in His Mighty Book is refraining from professing religion and believing in all exoteric sciences (al-'Ulum al-Zahirah) and exoteric actions (al-A'mal al-Zahirah), because He Almighty does not intend for us in His address by the name of food or drink coupled with blame except the blameworthy exoteric sciences and actions. Just as He, Glory be to Him, pointed to the prohibition of the blameworthy drink upon the tongue of His prophet Saul (Talut), peace be upon him, by His saying: {And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, God will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand." But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them.} (Al-Baqarah: 249).

And similar to it is what He Almighty pointed to regarding the blameworthy food (al-Ta'am al-Madhmum) represented by exoteric sciences in Surat Ad-Dukhan, by His saying: {Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum