Fasting in Islam: Rules, Types, and Tips

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and an engineer. She also studied at Zad Scientific Academy (an online academy) for Islamic Studies and the Arabic language.

Fasting in Islam is discussed in this article. Types and rules of it. One of the five pillars of Islam is fasting during Ramadan. You will also learn about the rules for fasting during Ramadan.

“In the name of Allah, most Gracious and most merciful.”

O, believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.
Noble Quran, Sūrah al-Baqarah (the Cow) 2:183

Fasting

Fasting is devotion to God by abstaining from eating, drinking, and other things that break the fast from dawn until sunset.

The intention to fast is obligatory; the fasting person intends to abstain from the things that break the fast to worship God. Pronunciation of the intention is not required, but the heart is sufficient.

In obligatory fasting, the time for intention begins from sunset until before sunrise. In voluntary fasting, the intention at night is not required, but the intention during the day is valid as long as the fasting person does not do anything that breaks his fast.

The purpose of fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink. But the main goal is to get used to patience as well as obedience to God Almighty. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said:

Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e., telling lies), evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (meaning: Allah will not accept his fasting).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1903-In book reference: Book 30, Hadith 13-English reference: Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 127)

The Hijri calendar, or the lunar Hijri calendar, consists of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Image source: twitter.com

Types of Fasting

The obligatory fast, such as Ramadan fasting or because of vows, penances, and making up.
Voluntary fasting
The forbidden fasting
Disliked fasting

Noble Quran, Sūrah al-Baqarah (the Cow) 2:185

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramadan˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
Noble Quran, Sūrah al-Baqarah (the Cow) 2:185

1. The Obligatory Fast (Ramadan Fasting)

Ramadan fasting is a religious obligation according to the Quran and Sunnah and the consensus of Muslim scholars.

The ninth month of the Hijri calendar is Ramadan. The month in which God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

On Monday, the second of Sha’ban, in the second year after the Hijrah, fasting Ramadan became obligatory.

The beginning of the month of Ramadan is confirmed by the sighting of the new crescent on the night of the twenty-ninth of Sha’ban. The end of Ramadan is proven by the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, according to the testimony of two knowledgeable and dependable Muslims.

Every country needs to rely on its sightings. Muslims must follow their local scholars’ opinions about the sighting of the crescent. The person should not start or end fasting on his own.

Who Must Fast Ramadan?

Islam: Fasting is not obligatory for non-believers.
Adult: Fasting is not required for the child, but it is preferable to encourage him to do so.
Mentally sound: Fasting is not obligatory for the insane.
The resident: The traveler is not required to fast.
The ability to fast: The patient is not obligated to fast.
Women who are free of menstruation and postpartum bleeding: Menstruating and postpartum women are not required to fast.

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of other days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers well [i.e., excess] – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.
Noble Quran, Sūrah al-Baqarah (the Cow) 2:184.

Excuses that Allow the Breaking of the Fast:

Excuses that make it permissible to break the fast: travel, illness, pregnant and breastfeeding women, menstruating women, and postpartum.

Travel

The traveler can break his fast even if he can fast. There are three options for a traveler:

If fasting does not harm the traveler, fasting is better.
If fasting harms the traveler, fasting becomes disliked, and breaking the fast is better.
If fasting causes great hardship to the traveler, fasting is forbidden.

Disease

The religious scholars divided the sick into three sections:

A sick person who is not affected by the fast. Such as a patient with a headache or a cold. This person is fasting.
The patient is tired of fasting. But fasting does not harm him. In this case, fasting is disliked, and breaking the fast is better.
If the patient suffers from an incurable disease, such as kidney disease or diabetes, fasting is forbidden. The elderly, who cannot fast, break the fast and do not have to make up for these days. But they should feed one poor person, for each day they break their fast.

In general, a sick person should not fast while he is sick. He is not obliged to fast until after his recovery. If he dies before recovering, those days are not obligatory for him. Therefore, no one is obligated to feed a poor person on his behalf if fasting is not obligatory for him. This is because feeding the poor is an alternative to obligatory fasting.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding and pregnant women have two conditions:

If the pregnant and breastfeeding woman does not find difficulty during fasting and the fasting does not harm the child, then she is fasting.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may break their fast if they are unable to do so or if they fear harm to themselves or their child.

Menstruation and Postpartum

This case has three conditions:

Fasting is forbidden for women during menstruation and postpartum periods, and they must break their fast. They have to make up for these days by fasting later on.
If a woman menstruates during the day of Ramadan while she is fasting, she has to break the fast and make up that day. If she became pure from menstruation, even for a moment before sunset, then she must make up for that day too.
If a woman is aborted in Ramadan and the fetus has not yet been created, her blood is not postpartum but spoiled, so she should fast and pray. But if the woman is aborted and the fetus is created, her blood is postpartum bleeding, so she does not fast or pray. According to ucsfhealth.org, the minimum period for fetal creation is approximately eighty days, starting from the first day of pregnancy.

Fasting Invalidators:

Deliberately Eating and Drinking

Intentionally eating, drinking, and smoking. For a person who ate or drank forgetful, his fast is valid.
Injections taken for feeding instead of eating and drinking invalidate the fast. But injections that have no nutritional value do not break the fast.
Eye and ear drops do not break the fast. A fasting person can use an asthma inhaler, but it is better to use it at night.

Vomiting Deliberately

Vomiting is the expulsion of what is in the stomach through the mouth.
Deliberate vomiting breaks the fast, but a person who vomits against his will can complete his fast without making up for it that day.

Deliberate Secretions of Semen

Deliberately secreting semen invalidates the fast, and he must make it up without expiation. A wet dream or the emission of semen without desire due to illness does not invalidate the fast.

Extraction of Blood by Cupping

Deliberately withdrawing blood from the body by cupping invalidates the fast. This is based on the hadith:

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The cupper and the one for whom cupping is done both break their fast.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1679; in the book reference: Book 7, Hadith 42, English translation: Volume 1, Book 7, Hadith 1679)

Blood Donations

A fasting person can donate blood if he has to. If the blood to be donated is simple, he does not make up that day. But if the blood is a lot, he makes up that day.

Menstruation and Childbirth

If a woman is menstruating or postpartum, her fast is invalidated.

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Isn’t it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And that is a loss in her religion.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1951; in book reference: Book 30, Hadith 58; English reference: Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 172)

Intercourse

Intentionally having intercourse with the wife during the daytime hours of Ramadan not only breaks the fast but also results in other matters:

Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I am destroyed, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet asked, “What destroyed you?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadan.” The Prophet asked, “Can you free a slave?” He said, “No”. He asked, “Can you fast for two months consecutively?” He said, “No.” He asked, “Can you feed sixty poor people?” He said, “No,” and sat down. So, the Prophet brought a measure of dates and said, “Give this in charity.” The man said, “To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than we are!” The Prophet smiled and said: “Go and feed it to your family.”
Sahih (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

How to make up for the missed days of Ramadan:

The missed days of Ramadan must be made up before the next Ramadan, whenever possible. You do not have to fast these days continuously. But you can fast either consecutively or separately.

The intention is necessary to make up for the missed days of Ramadan. The intention of fasting must be before dawn, and it is not permissible to break the fast without a legitimate reason, such as sickness or travel.

Whoever delays making up fasts without an excuse until the next month of Ramadan must repent to Allah Almighty, resolve not to repeat this mistake in the future, and make up the days of fasting. He could also feed a poor person for every day he missed if he wanted to.

Countries With Too Long or Too Short Days

Fasting is obligatory, no matter how long or short the day is. Those who fast in countries where the day or night lasts depend on the countries closest to them, which have day and night.

2. Voluntary Fasting

Types of voluntary fasting:

Fasting six days of Shawwal, Abu Ayyub reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1716, in-book reference: Book 7, Hadith 79, English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1716).
Fasting on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah (Arafat), Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafat, I hope from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1730, in-book reference: Book 7, Hadith 93, English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1730).
Fasting on the tenth of Muharram (Ashura), Abu Qatadah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Fasting the day of ‘Ashura,’ I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1738, in-book reference: Book 7, Hadith 101, English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1738).
Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays of every week, Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Works are reviewed on Monday and Thursday, so I would like my work to be reviewed while I am fasting.” (Ash-Shama’il Al-Muhammadiyah 306, in-book reference: Book 43, Hadith 8).
Fasting the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Fasting in the month of Muharram: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best fasting after Ramadan is Allah’s month of Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)
Fasting a day and breaking the fast a day for those who can afford it: The Messenger of Allah said, “The best of fasting is the fast of Dawud (peace and blessings be upon him). He used to fast for one day and break his fast for one day.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

3. The Forbidden Fasting

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; Abu ‘Ubaid said, “I was present at Eid with ‘Umar, and he started with the prayer before the khutbah. He said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on these two days. The day of al-Fitr is the day when you break your fast, and on the day of al-Adha, eat the meat of your sacrifices.” (Sahih al-Bukhari (1990) and Muslim (1137))
The days of Tashreeq are the three days following Eid al-Adha, the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth of the Dhul-Hijjah month. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not fast these days, the days of Tashreeq, for they are days of eating and drinking.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and an-Nasā’i) But it is permissible to fast on the days of al-Tashreeq for those who are unable to slaughter, if necessary, during Hajj.
The day of doubt: This is the day after the twenty-ninth day of Sha’ban, which may be the thirtieth or first day of the month of Ramadan.

4. Disliked Fasting

Friday alone: Abu Huraira narrated, “I heard the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah upon him) saying, ‘None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1985, In-book reference: Book 30, Hadith 92, English reference: Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 206)
On Saturday alone, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not fast on Saturday except for what has been made obligatory upon you (by Allah).” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 744, In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 63, English translation: Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 744)

Fasting Tips

Suhur (the pre-dawn meal): This meal provides the fasting people with energy to help them fast. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said, “Take Suhur, as there is a blessing in it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923—in book reference: Book 30, Hadith 32; English reference: Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 146).
Hasten to break the fast (Iftar): Fasting people must break their fast as soon as they know the sun has set or hear the call to prayer of Maghrib (evening prayer).

Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad used to break his fast before prayer by eating fresh dates, and if there were no fresh dates, he would eat dried dates. If there were no dry dates, he would have had a few sips of water. (Abu Dawood, Saḥeeḥ (authentic)) So, it is preferred that the fasting people have some dates at the beginning of Iftar, and if they cannot find dates, they can have doses of water.
It is preferred for the fasting person to supplicate during his fast and when breaking the fast. The Messenger of Allah said, “When the fasting person breaks his fast, his supplication is not turned back.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1753; in book reference: Book 7, Hadith 116; English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith, 1753)
The fasting person should strive to do many good deeds, especially in the month of Ramadan, such as reading the Qur’an, giving charity, or sharing iftar with others.
Do not exaggerate rinsing your mouth while fasting; excessive rinsing of the mouth may lead to water reaching the throat and stomach.
If tasting food is necessary, be careful not to get food into the throat.
The missed days of Ramadan must be made up before the next Ramadan, whenever possible. You do not have to fast these days continuously. But you can fast either consecutively or separately.

Long Way Education