Ramadan Fasting Explained

What the fast requires

Abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and marital relations from the entry of Fajr until Maghrib, together with the intention to fast.

Intention (niyyah)

For obligatory Ramadan fasts the intention is made before dawn; it is an act of the heart and does not need to be spoken aloud. Many people renew it once for the whole month and again nightly.

Who must fast

Every Muslim who is adult, sane, resident and able. Exemptions in the Qur’an and Sunnah include illness and travel (2:184–185), with the days made up later; menstruation and post-natal bleeding, likewise made up; and permanent inability, for which fidya is given.

What invalidates it

Deliberate eating, drinking or marital relations invalidate the fast. Doing so forgetfully does not (Sahih al-Bukhari 1933). Deliberate marital relations during a Ramadan day additionally require expiation (kaffarah) in the classical schools (Sahih al-Bukhari 1936).

Attribution: the rulings summarised here are the positions recorded in the classical schools and the well known hadith collections. They are presented for information, not as a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar in your community.

Frequently asked questions

Does swallowing saliva break the fast?

No. Saliva, dust and unavoidable traces do not break the fast according to the four schools.

Is the fast valid without a spoken intention?

Yes. The intention is in the heart; speaking it is a custom, not a requirement.

Where to go next

Suhoor and IftarBoth meals, the sunnah and the practicalities.Ramadan plannerPreparing for the month and a daily routine.Dua librarySupplications with source and grading.Health while fastingHydration, sleep, caffeine and medication.Ramadan quizTest what you know, with every answer referenced.