Fasting Basics: Who Must Fast, Intention and Sunnahs
The essentials of fasting Ramadan: what the Qur'an says, who must fast, who is excused (sick, travellers, pregnant, elderly), intention and the daily sunnahs.
This guide explains common views and sources. It is not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a scholar or imam you trust.
Fasting Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. The Qur'an prescribes it in 2:183–185: fasting was written for the believers as it was for those before them, for a fixed number of days, so that they might attain taqwa; those who are ill or travelling make up the days later; those who cannot fast feed a poor person instead; and Allah intends ease, not hardship. This guide covers the basics every fasting person should know. It is general information across the schools, not a ruling; for your own case ask a scholar or imam you trust.
What the fast is
From true dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) you abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations, with the intention of worship. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and hope of reward has his past sins forgiven (Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760).
The fast is also a shield (Sahih al-Bukhari 1894): the fasting person does not argue or insult, and if someone insults him he says "I am fasting". And whoever does not give up false speech and acting on it, Allah has no need of his giving up food and drink (Sahih al-Bukhari 1903). So the fast has a body (no food or drink) and a spirit (restraint of tongue and temper). Both matter.
For the exact minute the fast starts and ends, see suhoor and iftar times.
Who must fast
Fasting is obligatory on every Muslim who is:
- past puberty,
- sane,
- physically able, and
- resident (not travelling), and, for women, not menstruating or in post-natal bleeding.
Children are not obliged. Many families let them practise with half days; see kids and Ramadan.
Who is excused
| Situation | What the schools say | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Illness that fasting would worsen or that makes it very hard | May leave the fast (2:184) | Make up the days when well |
| Travelling (a distance that permits shortening prayer) | May leave the fast; fasting is also valid if not harmful | Make up the days |
| Menstruation, post-natal bleeding | Must not fast | Make up the days (Sahih Muslim 335) |
| Pregnancy or breastfeeding with fear of harm | May leave the fast | Hanafis: make up only. Shafi'is and Hanbalis: make up, plus fidyah if the fear was for the child. Malikis: make up; fidyah for breastfeeding in some views. |
| Old age or permanent illness, no realistic prospect of making up | Does not fast | Fidyah: feed one poor person per day |
| Hard physical work with real risk | Scholars differ; many allow breaking the fast on the day it becomes dangerous | Make up the day |
Chronic conditions such as diabetes need a doctor's input before Ramadan. The NHS and the IDF-DAR Diabetes and Ramadan guidelines both recommend a pre-Ramadan assessment. See fasting with health conditions and missed fasts, qada and fidyah.
Intention (niyyah)
Intention is the resolve in the heart to fast tomorrow for Ramadan. It needs no words. Getting up for suhoor is itself a sign of intention.
Where the schools differ is timing:
- Shafi'i, Hanbali: the intention must be made during the night before each obligatory fast, before Fajr.
- Hanafi: the intention for a Ramadan fast may be made up to around mid-morning of the same day, as long as nothing has been eaten; making it the night before is better.
- Maliki: one intention on the first night suffices for the whole of Ramadan, unless the sequence is broken by travel, illness or menstruation, after which a new one is needed.
Practical approach: renew the intention each night. It satisfies every school.
The daily sunnahs
- Eat suhoor, even a little, and eat it late. There is blessing in it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923; Sahih Muslim 1095).
- Break the fast promptly at Maghrib (Sahih al-Bukhari 1957; Sahih Muslim 1098), ideally with dates and water, then pray Maghrib before the main meal. See the sunnah of iftar.
- Guard the tongue. No lying, backbiting or quarrelling.
- Pray tarawih at night and read Qur'an; the Prophet (peace be upon him) reviewed the Qur'an with Jibril every Ramadan (reported by al-Bukhari).
- Give generously. He was most generous in Ramadan (reported by al-Bukhari).
- Use the siwak or toothbrush, make dua, and seek the last ten nights.
What does not break the fast
Brushing teeth, swallowing saliva, tasting food on the tongue without swallowing (disliked by some), showering, using perfume, eye make-up, blood tests and most injections that do not nourish. The detailed and disputed cases are in what breaks the fast.
A simple daily routine for 2027
Ramadan 2027 falls in February, so fasts in the northern hemisphere are short: about 11 to 13 hours. Example for London on 15 February: Fajr 05:38, Maghrib 17:15.
- 04:45 wake, pray tahajjud if you can, eat suhoor
- 05:28 stop eating (10-minute imsak margin), 05:38 Fajr
- Work or study as normal; a short rest after Dhuhr helps
- 17:15 iftar with dates and water, pray Maghrib, eat
- 18:40 Isha, then tarawih, then early sleep
Check the exact times for your city on the Ramadan timetable, and the expected dates on Ramadan 2027.
Useful tools
Questions and answers
Do I have to say the intention out loud?
No. Intention is in the heart. Knowing at suhoor that you are fasting tomorrow for Ramadan is the intention. Saying words is not required, though some people find a short phrase helpful.
Can I make one intention for the whole month?
Malikis consider one intention at the start of Ramadan enough for the whole month as long as it is not interrupted. Hanafis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis require an intention for each night. Renewing it every night is safest and costs nothing.
At what age must a child fast?
From puberty. Before that it is not obligatory, though children are encouraged to practise with part days or some full days as they are able.
I am pregnant. Must I fast?
If you fear harm to yourself or the baby you may leave the fast. Whether you later make up the days, pay fidyah or both differs between schools. Talk to your doctor and ask a scholar you trust.
What if I cannot fast at all because of age or long-term illness?
Qur'an 2:184 allows feeding a poor person for each day missed (fidyah) for those who cannot fast. See our guide on missed fasts for amounts.
Sources
- Qur'an 2:183–185
- Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760 (fasting Ramadan with faith and hope)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1894 (fasting is a shield)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1903 (false speech while fasting)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1923; Sahih Muslim 1095 (suhoor)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1957; Sahih Muslim 1098 (hasten iftar)
- Sahih Muslim 335 (make up fasts after menstruation)