What Is Iftar? The meal or act that ends a daily fast at sunset
A plain-language definition of Iftar, its Arabic origin, and how Muslims use the term.
What Iftar means
Iftar is the meal or act that ends a daily fast at sunset. The term belongs to the basic vocabulary Muslims use to describe pillars & acts of worship. It names a specific idea or practice rather than every part of the wider subject. That distinction matters because English translations can make several related Arabic terms look interchangeable when they are not.
Arabic origin and wording
Iftar comes from the Arabic root f-t-r, associated with breaking or opening a fast. Transliteration into English varies, so the same word may appear with different apostrophes, vowels, or spellings. Those spelling differences usually point back to the same Arabic term; context is more useful than English spelling alone when identifying its meaning.
Iftar in daily Muslim life
In daily Muslim life, In Ramadan, Muslims commonly break the fast at Maghrib time, often beginning with dates and water before eating a meal. People may learn the word at home, in a mosque, in a class, or while reading translated Islamic material. Local customs and scholarly vocabulary can affect how often it is heard, but the core definition remains the one given here.
Related Islamic terms
Two useful related terms are Sawm and Suhoor. Iftar should be understood alongside them without being collapsed into either one. Together, the three entries provide a clearer map of the surrounding vocabulary and make it easier to recognize the term when it appears in prayer, study, or conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What does Iftar mean?
Iftar means the meal or act that ends a daily fast at sunset. In Islamic usage, the surrounding context helps distinguish it from related terms.
How is Iftar used in Muslim worship?
In Ramadan, Muslims commonly break the fast at Maghrib time, often beginning with dates and water before eating a meal. The term is also encountered in Islamic teaching and conversation.