Sauma

In Mandaeism, ṣauma (Classical Mandaic: ࡑࡀࡅࡌࡀ) is a term that means fasting. Although ṣauma can refer to physical fasting, it is more often used in Mandaeism to refer to spiritual piety and abstaining from sin.

On some days of the Mandaean calendar, Mandaeans perform light fasting. Unlike the Islamic tradition of sawm during Ramadan, Mandaeans do not completely forgo food and water for long periods of time. Instead, Mandaeans typically perform light fasting, such as abstaining from meat during certain mbaṭṭal (ominous) days.