Fasting Rulings
Obligation
Fasting Ramadan is obligatory on every sane, adult, capable Muslim — one of the five pillars of Islam.
2:183 — «Fasting is prescribed for you…»
Intention (Niyyah)
The intention to fast must be made each night before dawn. The Prophet ﷺ said: «Whoever does not intend to fast before dawn, there is no fast for him.»
Bukhārī & Muslim
Things that break the fast
Eating, drinking, intimate relations, vomiting deliberately, menstruation, and cupping with bloodletting.
2:187
Things that do not break
Using the siwāk, rinsing the mouth and nose, eye drops, injections (non-nutritive), tasting food without swallowing.
Bukhārī
Exemptions
The sick, travelers, pregnant/nursing women, elderly, and children are exempt. The sick and travelers make up the days.
2:184–185
Making up missed days
Those who missed days must make them up before the next Ramadan. If delayed without excuse, feed a poor person for each day.
2:185
Recommended acts
Suḥūr (eating before dawn), ifṭār without delay, increased recitation of Quran, charity, and tarāwīḥ prayer.
Bukhārī & Muslim
Who should not fast
Women in menstruation or postnatal bleeding should not fast but must make up the days. Children are not required.
Bukhārī & Muslim
Fasting of the traveler
It is permitted to break the fast while traveling and make up the day. Fasting while traveling is allowed if not burdensome.
2:184
Duʿās for Fasting
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ
Beginning the fast (Suḥūr)
I intend to keep tomorrow's fast for the month of Ramadan.
Abū Dāwūd (commonly recited)
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Breaking the fast (Ifṭār)
The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed if Allah wills.
Abū Dāwūd
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الْأَبْرَارُ وَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
When invited to ifṭār
May the fasting break their fast with you, the righteous eat your food, and the angels descend upon you.
Ibn Mājah
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ
When seeing the new moon
O Allah, let it rise over us in security, faith, safety and Islam — my Lord and your Lord is Allah.
Tirmidhī
Laylat al-Qadr
What is Laylat al-Qadr?
The Night of Decree — better than a thousand months. Worship on it exceeds eighty-three years of worship.
97:3
When to seek it
Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, especially the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th).
Bukhārī & Muslim
What to do
Increase prayer, recitation, charity, and remembrance. The Prophet ﷺ said: «Seek it in the last ten — whoever stands in prayer seeking reward, his previous sins are forgiven.»
Bukhārī & Muslim
ʿItikāf
Seclusion in the masjid during the last ten days — the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ to devote the heart to worship alone.
Bukhārī & Muslim
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
The duʿā of Laylat al-Qadr
O Allah, You are Pardoning and Generous; You love to pardon, so pardon me.
Tirmidhī