Every Muslim who has reached puberty, is of sound mind, and is able, must fast Ramadan. The sick and travellers may leave the fast and make it up later. Women do not fast during their period and make the days up later. People who can never fast pay fidya: they feed a poor person for each day. Eating by mistake does not break the fast.
What the Qur'an says
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
Qur'an 2:183 · Surah Al-Baqarah · Saheeh International
أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of 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 excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.
Qur'an 2:184 · Surah Al-Baqarah · Saheeh International
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Qur'an 2:185 · Surah Al-Baqarah · Saheeh International
Who must fast
You must fast Ramadan if all of these are true:
- You are Muslim.
- You have reached puberty.
- You are of sound mind.
- You are able to fast, and you are not travelling.
- For women: you are not on your period, and not bleeding after childbirth.
Children do not have to fast. Many families help them practise with short fasts. See family and children.
Who may leave the fast, and what they do later
Qada means making up a missed fast later, one day for one day. Fidya means feeding one poor person for each day you cannot fast at all.
| Who | In Ramadan | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Traveller | May break the fast. Fasting is also allowed. | Qada Make up each day. Qur'an 2:184–185; Sahih Muslim 1116. Schools set a minimum distance; ask locally. |
| Ill for a while | May break the fast if fasting would harm you or slow healing. | Qada Make up each day when well. Qur'an 2:184–185 |
| Ill for life, or too old and weak to fast | Does not fast. | Fidya Feed one poor person for each day. Qur'an 2:184; Ibn Abbas in Sahih al-Bukhari 4505 |
| On her period, or bleeding after childbirth | Must not fast. | Qada Make up each day. Sahih al-Bukhari 1951; Sahih Muslim 335c |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding | May break the fast if she fears harm to herself or her baby. | Views differ Most say qada. Some schools add fidya when she feared only for the baby. Ask a scholar. |
| Child before puberty | Not required to fast. | Nothing owed. |
Companions travelled with the Prophet ﷺ in Ramadan. Some fasted and some did not, and neither group blamed the other.
Sahih Muslim 1116
Aisha said: we were told to make up the fasts missed during our periods, but not the prayers.
Sahih Muslim 335c
If you have a medical condition, speak to your doctor and a scholar you trust before Ramadan. Your health is a real reason. Allah "intends for you ease" (Qur'an 2:185).
What breaks the fast, and what does not
| Breaks the fast | What to do |
|---|---|
| Eating or drinking on purpose | Make up the day. Some schools also require kaffarah (see below). |
| Sex during the day | Make up the day and pay kaffarah. |
| Making yourself vomit | Make up the day. Sunan Abi Dawud 2380 (Sahih, al-Albani) |
| Smoking or vaping | Make up the day. |
| Your period starts, even just before sunset | Stop fasting. Make up the day. |
| Does not break the fast | Source or note |
|---|---|
| Eating or drinking by mistake. Finish your fast. | "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah." Sahih al-Bukhari 1933 |
| Vomiting that you could not stop | Sunan Abi Dawud 2380 (Sahih, al-Albani) |
| Waking up in a state that needs ghusl (a full bath). Bathe and fast. | Sahih al-Bukhari 1925–1926 |
| Swallowing your own saliva | Agreed by scholars |
| Showering, swimming without swallowing water | Do not swallow water |
| Brushing teeth or using a siwak | Do not swallow. Some scholars dislike it after midday. |
| A wet dream | It was not by choice |
These questions are newer, or the schools read the texts in different ways. Here are the main views. For your own case, ask a local scholar, or a Muslim doctor who knows the rulings.
- Blood tests, blood donation, cupping. Most schools: does not break the fast. The Prophet ﷺ was cupped while fasting (Sahih al-Bukhari 1938). The Hanbali school: cupping breaks it.
- Injections that are not food (insulin, vaccines, painkillers). Many scholars today: does not break the fast. Some disagree.
- A drip that feeds you (IV nutrition). Most scholars today: breaks the fast.
- Asthma inhalers, eye drops, ear drops, nasal sprays. Views differ. If you need them, you may also be someone who is excused.
The intention
Your intention (niyyah) is in your heart. You do not have to say it out loud. Getting up for suhoor because you plan to fast is already an intention.
The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools ask for an intention each night before dawn. The Maliki school says one intention at the start of Ramadan covers the whole month. The Hanafi school allows the intention for a Ramadan fast until before midday. Many people make the intention each night to be safe.
Suhoor and iftar: the sunnah
The fast runs from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). The Qur'an says eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes clear from the black thread of night (2:187). Your city's times are on our Ramadan 2027 timetables.
"Take Suhur as there is a blessing in it."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1923
Suhoor ended about fifty verses' time before the call to Fajr.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1921
"The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1957
He broke his fast with fresh dates, or dry dates, or a few sips of water.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2356 (Hasan Sahih, al-Albani)
"Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills."
Sunan Abi Dawud 2357 (Hasan, al-Albani). Arabic and audio
Whoever does not give up lying and bad deeds, Allah has no need of him leaving his food and drink.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1903
Missed fasts: qada and fidya
For people who will be able to fast later: travellers, the sick who recover, women after their period, most pregnant and nursing mothers.
One day for each day missed. The days do not have to be in a row, in the view of most scholars.
For people who can never make the days up: the very old and weak, and the chronically ill.
Feed one poor person for each day. Local bodies set the amount in money. Use the fidya calculator.
When to make up. Any time before the next Ramadan, on any day when fasting is allowed (not on the two Eids). Aisha sometimes made hers up in Sha'ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 1950). For Ramadan 2026 fasts, that means before Mon 8 Feb 2027.
If someone delays make-up fasts past the next Ramadan without a good reason, the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools add fidya for each day. The Hanafi school asks for the make-up days only.
Kaffarah, briefly
Kaffarah is a heavy penalty for breaking a Ramadan fast on purpose in a serious way. All four schools apply it to sex during a Ramadan fast. The Hanafi and Maliki schools also apply it to eating or drinking on purpose.
A man told the Prophet ﷺ he had slept with his wife while fasting in Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ asked him, in order: could he free a slave? Could he fast two months in a row? Could he feed sixty poor people?
Sahih al-Bukhari 1936
Today this means: fast 60 days in a row. If you truly cannot, feed 60 poor people. You also make up the day itself. If this applies to you, speak to a local scholar.
Questions people ask
Does eating by mistake break the fast?
No. If you eat or drink forgetfully, stop and complete your fast. The Prophet ﷺ said that what you ate or drank was given to you by Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 1933).
Who is excused from fasting in Ramadan?
Travellers and people who are ill may break the fast and make it up later (Qur'an 2:184–185). Women do not fast during their period or bleeding after childbirth, and make the days up. The very old and the chronically ill pay fidya instead. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may break the fast if they fear harm.
Do I make up fasts missed during my period?
Yes. Aisha said they were told to make up the fasts missed during their periods, but not the prayers (Sahih Muslim 335c).
What is fidya?
Fidya is feeding one poor person for each day of fasting you cannot do and can never make up, for example because of old age or a lifelong illness (Qur'an 2:184). Local bodies set the amount in money.
Do injections break the fast?
Scholars differ. Many scholars today say injections that are not food, such as insulin or vaccines, do not break the fast. Most say a drip that feeds you does break it. Ask a local scholar or a Muslim doctor you trust about your own case.
Can I brush my teeth while fasting?
Yes, as long as you do not swallow anything. Some scholars dislike brushing after midday.