Fasting (Sawm)

Sawm is worship by staying away, from dawn to sunset, from food, drink and marital relations, with the intention of pleasing Allah. Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Allah says: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa” (2:183).

In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting — it is for Me, and I reward it” (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ also said that Paradise has a gate called Ar-Rayyan, through which only those who fasted will enter, and that whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward has their previous sins forgiven.

Fasting Ramadan is obligatory on every Muslim who meets these conditions:

• Being Muslim.
• Having reached puberty (children are encouraged to practise, not obliged).
• Being of sound mind.
• Being able to fast without serious harm.
• Being resident, not travelling (a traveller may delay).
• For women: being free from menstrual and postnatal bleeding.

The intention is in the heart — nothing needs to be said aloud. For an obligatory fast it should be made before Fajr. Most scholars advise renewing it each night of Ramadan; the Maliki school accepts a single intention for the whole month, made on its first night.

The fast begins at true dawn (the Fajr adhan) and ends at sunset (the Maghrib adhan). Allah says: “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread of night; then complete the fast until the night” (2:187). Stop eating when the Fajr time begins — the local prayer timetable gives the exact minute.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing” (Bukhari and Muslim). It is a Sunnah, even with only a few dates or water, and it is best taken late, close to Fajr. Choose slow-release foods (dates, oats, eggs, yoghurt, water) to stay strong through the day.

Break the fast as soon as the sun sets — the Prophet ﷺ said people remain in good as long as they hasten to break it (Bukhari and Muslim). He used to break his fast with fresh dates, or dry dates, or a few sips of water. Then say the supplication below, and remember that this is a moment when Dua is hoped to be answered.

These break the fast when done deliberately, knowing it is Ramadan and remembering one is fasting:

• Eating or drinking on purpose.
• Marital relations.
• Deliberately making oneself vomit.
• The start of menstrual or postnatal bleeding, even shortly before sunset.
• Deliberate ejaculation.

Allah does not burden anyone beyond their capacity. The following do not break the fast:

• Eating or drinking by forgetfulness — the Prophet ﷺ said: “Let him complete his fast, for Allah fed him and gave him drink” (Bukhari and Muslim).
• Vomiting that comes on its own.
• Swallowing one's own saliva.
• Brushing the teeth or using the Miswak, taking care not to swallow.
• Showering, swimming or washing, without swallowing water.
• Dust, smoke or an insect entering the throat by accident.
• A wet dream, or applying perfume.

Allah wants ease for you, not hardship (2:185). Those excused from fasting Ramadan:

• The ill, whose illness makes fasting hard or harmful — they make up the days later.
• The traveller on a journey — they make up the days later.
• Women during menstruation or postnatal bleeding — they must not fast and make up the days later (without making up the prayers).
• The elderly or chronically ill, who cannot fast and cannot hope to recover — they feed a poor person for each day (Fidya).
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear harm to themselves or their child — scholars differ: most say make up the days, and some add Fidya.

Qada is making up the missed days, one for one, ideally before the next Ramadan. Fidya is feeding a poor person for each missed day, for those who cannot fast at all. Kaffarah is the expiation for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast by marital relations: freeing a slave; if not possible, fasting two consecutive months; and if not possible, feeding sixty poor people (Bukhari and Muslim). For deliberately breaking the fast by eating or drinking, scholars agree the day must be made up; some also require Kaffarah.

Fasting is more than hunger. Make the month full of worship:

• Guard the tongue and behaviour: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up food and drink” (Bukhari). If someone insults you, say: “I am fasting.”
• Recite and reflect on the Quran — it was revealed in this month, and Jibril reviewed it with the Prophet ﷺ every Ramadan.
• Pray Taraweeh and Qiyam: “Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, their previous sins are forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim).
• Give more in charity — the Prophet ﷺ was at his most generous in Ramadan. Feed a fasting person and share in their reward.
• Make plenty of Dua, Dhikr and Istighfar, especially near Iftar and in the last part of the night.

Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is better than a thousand months (97:3). Seek it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari). The Prophet ﷺ used to stay in I'tikaf, in the mosque, in these days, and to revive his nights with worship. When Aisha asked what to say if she found the night, he ﷺ taught her this Dua:

Fasting outside Ramadan is one of the best ways to draw closer to Allah. The recommended fasts:

• Six days of Shawwal, after Ramadan — like fasting the whole year (Muslim).
• Mondays and Thursdays — the Prophet ﷺ said deeds are presented to Allah on these days and he liked to be fasting (Tirmidhi).
• The White Days: the 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month.
• The Day of Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah) for those not on Hajj — it expiates two years.
• Ashura (10 Muharram), with the 9th or 11th — it expiates the previous year.
• The fast of Dawud (alternate days) — “the most beloved fasting to Allah” (Bukhari and Muslim).
• Not permitted: the two Eid days, and the days right after Eid al-Adha are days of eating and drinking (Muslim). Singling out Friday alone is discouraged (Bukhari and Muslim).

Zakat al-Fitr is a small obligatory charity on every Muslim, including children, given for each person one is responsible for: a sa' (about 2.5–3 kg) of the local staple food, such as dates, barley or rice (Bukhari and Muslim). It purifies the fast and feeds the poor before Eid, and must be paid before the Eid prayer (it may be given a day or two earlier). On Eid: bathe, wear your best, eat a few dates before going out, say the Takbir on the way, pray Eid in congregation, and greet one another with “Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum” (may Allah accept it from us and from you).