What is the difference between "siyam" (الصيام) and "sawm" (الصوم) linguistically and legally (in Islamic law)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There is no difference between "siyam" (صيام) and "sawm" (صوم), neither linguistically nor in Islamic law. Both are verbal nouns from the root "sama" (صام), and they mean abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse. Linguistically, it means to abstain.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/62657
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 62657
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy