The fiqh of fasting
Who must fast, who is excused, what breaks a fast, making up missed days, and zakat al-fitr.
11 minute read · SunnahPanda
Fasting the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. From the start of Fajr until sunset, you hold back from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse, with the intention of doing it for Allah.
O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become mindful of Allah.
Who must fast
Fasting Ramadan is obligatory on every Muslim who is adult (has reached puberty), sane, able to fast, and resident rather than travelling. A woman who is menstruating or has post-natal bleeding must not fast, and makes the days up later.
Who is excused
- The traveller, on a journey long enough to shorten prayers. They may fast or not, and make up any days missed (al-Baqarah 2:184).
- The ill, when fasting would cause harm or slow recovery. They make up the days once well.
- The elderly and the chronically ill who cannot fast and are not expected to recover. They feed one poor person for each day missed (fidyah) instead (al-Baqarah 2:184).
- Women during menstruation or post-natal bleeding. They make up the days, but not the missed prayers. 'A'ishah said: "We were commanded to make up the fasts, and not commanded to make up the prayers" (Sahih Muslim 335).
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women who fear for themselves or their baby (see the table below).
| Hanafi | Maliki | Shafi'i | Hanbali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fearing for herself | Make up only | Make up only | Make up only | Make up only |
| Fearing only for the baby | Make up only | Pregnant: make up only. Breastfeeding: make up and fidyah | Make up and fidyah | Make up and fidyah |
Swipe the table to see every column →
The intention
The intention is in the heart. Getting up for suhur because you plan to fast is itself an intention, and it doesn't need to be said aloud. The schools differ on when it must be made:
| Hanafi | Maliki | Shafi'i | Hanbali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For a Ramadan fast | Any time before midday | One intention at the start of the month covers it | Each night before Fajr | Each night before Fajr |
| For a voluntary fast | Before midday | Before Fajr | Before midday, if you haven't eaten | Any time in the day, if you haven't eaten |
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Suhur and iftar
- Eat suhur, even a little: "Take suhur, for in suhur there is blessing" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923). It is sunnah to have it late, close to Fajr.
- Break the fast as soon as the sun has set: "People will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1957).
- Break it with fresh dates, then dried dates, then water if you have neither (Sunan Abi Dawud 2356).
When breaking the fast
Sunan Abi Dawud 2357ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Dhahabaz-zama'u wabtallatil-'uruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha Allah
“The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.”
What breaks the fast
All schools agree the fast is broken by deliberately eating, drinking or having intercourse, by deliberately making yourself vomit (Sunan Abi Dawud 2380), and by the start of menstrual or post-natal bleeding. Vomiting that you can't help does not break it.
Eating by mistake
"Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1933, Sahih Muslim 1155). The Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools hold the fast is still valid. The Maliki school holds you carry on fasting but make up the day later.
| Hanafi | Maliki | Shafi'i | Hanbali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cupping (hijamah) | Does not break | Does not break (disliked if weakening) | Does not break | Breaks the fast |
| Eye drops or kohl | Does not break | Breaks it if tasted in the throat | Does not break | Breaks it if tasted in the throat |
| Deliberately eating or drinking in Ramadan | Make up and expiation | Make up and expiation | Make up only (and repent) | Make up only (and repent) |
| Deliberate intercourse in Ramadan | Make up and expiation | Make up and expiation | Make up and expiation | Make up and expiation |
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The expiation (kaffarah)
Freeing a slave, which no longer applies; if not possible, fasting two consecutive months; and if not able to, feeding sixty poor people (Sahih al-Bukhari 1936). It is owed in addition to making up the day.
Medicines and modern questions
Injections that are not nutritional, blood tests and swallowing nothing are widely held by contemporary scholars not to break the fast, while nutritional drips do. Inhalers, nasal sprays and some other treatments are disputed. If you take regular medication, ask a scholar and your doctor before Ramadan rather than guessing.
Making up missed days
Missed Ramadan days are made up (qada') one for one before the next Ramadan, and they don't need to be consecutive. If someone delays them past the next Ramadan without a valid excuse, the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools add a fidyah for each day as well, while the Hanafi school requires only the make-up fasts.
Zakat al-fitr
Before the Eid prayer, every Muslim who has more than they need for the day of Eid gives zakat al-fitr for themselves and the people they support, including children. The Prophet ﷺ set it as one sa' (about four double handfuls) of food such as dates or barley (Sahih al-Bukhari 1503). The majority of scholars hold it should be given as food. The Hanafi school allows its value in money, which is how most UK masjids collect it, announcing a set amount each year.
Good to know
In the UK the start and end of Ramadan can differ between masjids, depending on whether they follow a local moon sighting, Saudi Arabia, or calculations. Follow your local masjid or community, and don't let it become an argument.
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