How to Fast in Ramadan: Rules, Times, and Spiritual Practice

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar — the month in which the Quran was first revealed. Across the world, more than 1.8 billion Muslims observe it together, fasting from dawn to sunset and gathering for night prayers (Tarawih).

The Daily Rhythm

1. Suhoor — a small meal eaten before the start of Fajr time. Aim for filling foods (oats, dates, water).
2. Niyyah (intention) — set the intention to fast. Most schools require a daily niyyah; Malikis allow a single intention for the whole month.
3. Fast — no eating, drinking, or marital intimacy from the start of Fajr until the call to Maghrib.
4. Iftar — break the fast at sunset. The Sunnah is to break with dates and water.
5. Maghrib salah — pray immediately after iftar.
6. Tarawih — extra night prayer in congregation, common throughout the month.

Du'a When Breaking the Fast

What Breaks the Fast

• Eating or drinking deliberately during the fasting hours.
• Marital intimacy during the fasting hours.
• Vomiting on purpose.
• For women: menstruation or post-natal bleeding (those days are made up later).

If you eat or drink by genuine forgetfulness, the fast is not broken — finish the day and continue normally. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast — for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink." (Sahih Bukhari 1933).

Who Is Exempt

• Children who have not yet reached puberty (though many enjoy practising with half-days).
• The sick — temporary illness means make-up days later; chronic illness means feeding the poor (fidya).
• Travellers — may break the fast and make up missed days later.
• Pregnant or nursing women whose health (or the child's) would be harmed. (Note: If broken solely out of fear for the baby's health, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools require making up the day plus paying fidya.)
• Menstruating women — fast is not valid those days; they are made up later.
• The very elderly — fidya (feeding a poor person per missed day) replaces fasting.

The Last Ten Nights

The final ten nights of Ramadan contain Laylatul-Qadr — described in the Quran as "better than a thousand months" (Quran 97:3). Many Muslims increase their night prayer, du'a, and Quran recitation in this period. The most loved du'a for these nights, taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), is:

After Ramadan

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr — the day of completion. Before the Eid prayer, every household gives Zakat al-Fitr: a small charity in food (or its monetary equivalent) on behalf of every member of the family. After Eid, six voluntary fasts in the following month of Shawwal carry the reward of fasting the whole year, according to a hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) recorded in Sahih Muslim 1164.