THE FOURTH CHAPTER

On the esoteric meaning of Fasting, its requirements, and its persons

Know that the term Fasting (al-Sawm) is established in the origin of the Arabic language to mean refraining from speech. The outward Divine Law (Sharia) transferred it from that meaning to the abstention from food, drink, and intimate relations with women; its duration is from the white light of the sun at the end of the night until the setting of its disk. The obligation therein is the duration of the month of Ramadan, and its supererogatory part is whatever the Muslim wishes, excluding the days of the [prohibited] numbers and Eids. Its outward rulings are different from its esoteric reality according to the people of the outward.

Its meaning in the esoteric sense is the safeguarding of the Secret of God, and silence regarding discourse with the ignorant concerning it. This is supported by the Almighty's report regarding the Lady Mary, the Mother of Light, when she said: "Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful a fast, so I will not speak today to any human" ¹ .