In Islam, fasting (known as Sawm, ; . Or Siyam, ; , also commonly known as Rūzeh or Rōzah, in non-Arab Muslim countries) is the practice of abstaining, usually from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity. During the holy month of Ramadan, Sawm is observed between dawn and nightfall when the adhan of the Maghrib prayer is sounded. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar and fasting is a requirement for Muslims as it is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Introduction Fasting is not for only Muslims; it has been practiced for centuries by religions such as Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Taoism, among others. It is stated in the Quran that Allah says, Some societies in North America fasted to serve as penance for sin and avert catastrophes. Incas of Peru and Native Americans of Mexico observed fasts to appease their gods. Former nations such as Assyrians and the Babylonians observed fasting as a form of penance. Jews observe fasting as a form of purification and penitence on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur annually. Food and drinks are not permitted on this day. Fasting took a different form in the West such as hunger strikes which is a form of fasting, used in modern times as a political weapon which was made popular by the leader of India's struggle for freedom, Mahatma Gandhi. He undertook fasts to compel his followers to obey his precept of nonviolence. Early Christians during the first two centuries, associated fasting with purification and penitence. The Christian church made fasting a voluntary preparation for receiving the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion and for the ordination of priests. Later, they were made compulsory and other days were subsequently added. The Lenten fast was expanded in the 6th Century to 40 days where one meal was allowed on each day. Fasting was retained by most Protestant churches and was made optional in some cases after the Reformation. However, stricter Protestants condemned both the festivals of the church and their traditional fasts. The Roman Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as their fast may involve partial abstinence from food and drink or total abstinence. In the Quran In the Quran, the practice of fasting is mentioned. In verse 2:183 Quran expresses situations in which a Muslim is allowed to abstain from fasting and introduces alternative solutions such as