There are two obligatory components of fasting:
1) Intention (Niyyah) Every Night
One must make the intention (niyyah) every night with firm resolve to fast. Niyyah must arise from the heart; merely uttering it with the tongue without presence of the heart does not suffice.
The time for niyyah is during the night — it must be made between sunset and before dawn. Without this, the fast is not valid.
A complete form of intention is:
"I intend to fast tomorrow from the obligatory fasts of Ramadan for the sake of Allah."
2) Abstaining from Acts That Invalidate the Fast
This includes refraining from everything that breaks the fast. Let us examine what those acts are:
Acts That Break the Fast
1) Sexual Intercourse
If sexual intercourse occurs during fasting, the fast is nullified. Along with making up (qada) that day’s fast, an expiation (kaffara) is obligatory.
Expiation is:
- Freeing a believing slave.
- Since that is no longer possible today, the second option must be taken: fasting two consecutive months.
- If that too is not feasible, feeding 60 poor people with approximately 800 ml of the staple grain of the land for each person.
2) Ejaculation (Mani) Due to Stimulation
If ejaculation occurs through deliberate stimulation (by hand or otherwise), the fast is broken.
However, ejaculation due to dreams, thoughts, or glances does not break the fast.
3) Induced Vomiting
If a person vomits deliberately, the fast is broken — even if the vomitus does not return inside.
If vomiting happens unintentionally, it only invalidates the fast if the vomit returns inside.
4) Entry of Solid Substances Through Body Orifices to Internal Cavities
What Is Meant by Internal Cavities?
These include:
- Inner parts of the ear, breast, stomach, genitals, and rectum
- Beyond the nasal bone or throat, including trachea, esophagus, bladder, and intestines
What Qualifies as a Solid Substance?
Any substance considered tangible or solid under normal circumstances will invalidate the fast if it reaches internal cavities.
Examples include:
- Phlegm
- Edible items (even as small as a sesame seed)
- Non-edible items
- Saliva mixed with mouth blood
However, pure saliva that goes from the mouth into the body does not break the fast. Likewise, smells and tastes entering the body do not invalidate the fast.
Conditions for an Action to Invalidate the Fast
Three conditions must be met for an act to break the fast:
- Knowledge — the person knows it is forbidden while fasting.
- Deliberateness — it is done intentionally.
- Volition — it is done by free will.
Therefore, if something is done out of ignorance, forgetfulness, or under compulsion, the fast remains valid.
Recommended Practices During Fasting
The essence of fasting is to seek closeness to Allah through enhanced worship. By increasing voluntary acts, one can attain divine proximity. Some highly recommended acts during Ramadan include:
1) Eating Suhoor (Pre-dawn Meal)
- Should be eaten in the latter half of the night.
- Avoid delaying it until there's doubt about dawn.
- Eating dates or drinking water suffices for reward.
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “Eat Suhoor, for there is blessing in it.”
2) Using Perfume During the Night
- Recommended before dawn, not during the day.
3) Avoiding Bad Conduct
- Stay away from lies, foul speech, and misconduct.
- Fasting isn’t just abstaining from food and drink but refraining from all that displeases Allah.
If someone insults you, simply say: “I am fasting.”
4) Increasing Qur’an Recitation
- Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an.
- Reciting and completing it multiple times is recommended.
- Some scholars completed it daily or weekly.
5) Increasing Charity
- The Prophet ﷺ was most generous during Ramadan.
- When asked which charity is best, he replied: “Charity in Ramadan.”
6) I’tikaf (Seclusion in the Mosque)
- Intention: “I intend to perform I’tikaf in this mosque for the sake of Allah.”
7) Breaking the Fast with Dates
- Best to break fast with three dates.
Supplication at the Time of Breaking the Fast
- “O Allah! I fasted for You and I break the fast with Your provision.”
9) Feeding a Fasting Person
- One who gives food to a fasting person gets the same reward without diminishing the other’s reward.
10) Breaking Fast Immediately After Sunset
- Do not delay unnecessarily.
11) Bathing Every Night During Ramadan
12) Performing Taraweeh Prayer
Taraweeh consists of twenty rak‘ahs, performed after the ‘Isha prayer. It is a special congregational Sunnah prayer that holds a prominent place in Ramadan. While men are encouraged to perform it in congregation at the mosque, women should pray it at home. The Witr prayer, though a Sunnah throughout the year, is especially emphasized in congregation during Ramadan. Beginning from the 16th night of Ramadan, it is also Sunnah to recite the du‘a al-qunoot in the final rak‘ah of Witr.
13) Avoiding Unnecessary Amusements
- Even permissible entertainment should be limited.
Disliked Acts While Fasting (Makruh)
1) Brushing Teeth in the Afternoon Without Need
- If due to bad breath, it's allowed.
2) Chewing Substances
- Chewing for taste or habit is discouraged, though chewing for feeding infants is permitted.
3) Tasting Food Without Reason
- Tasting with care (without swallowing) for cooking is allowed.
- Without reason, it's discouraged.
4) Using Perfume During the Day
- Fragrance application is discouraged.
5) Submerging in Water
- If there’s a risk water will enter the body, it’s prohibited.
- If not, it’s merely disliked.
6) Gargling or Rinsing Nose Beyond Limits During Ablution
Days When Fasting Is Forbidden
- Eid al-Fitr (1st of Shawwal)
- Eid al-Adha (10th of Dhul-Hijjah)
- Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, 13th of Dhul-Hijjah)
Fasting and the Deceased
If a person missed fasts for valid reasons but died before making them up, no expiation is needed.
If one could have made them up but failed to do so and died, there is a responsibility on the heirs.
There are two remedies:
- From the deceased’s estate, distribute staple grain (one mudd per missed fast) to the poor.
- Alternatively, the heirs may fast on their behalf. Giving food is preferable.
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
The most virtuous of all nights.
The Qur’an says: “Better than a thousand months.”
Its exact date is unknown but falls in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, most likely on an odd night.
Muslims should fill every night of the last 10 days with worship in anticipation of Laylat al-Qadr.
Sunnah (Voluntary) Fasts
Fasting is sunnah on any day not forbidden. The most meritorious months after Ramadan are:
- Muharram
- Rajab
- Dhul-Hijjah
- Dhul-Qa‘dah
- Sha‘ban
Some important sunnah fasts:
1) Day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah)
- Expiates sins of the past and coming year.
- Not applicable for pilgrims at Arafah.
2) 9th and 10th of Muharram (Ashura)
- The Prophet ﷺ fasted and encouraged fasting.
- Expiates sins of the past year.
3) Six Days of Shawwal
- Fasting six days after Ramadan equals the reward of fasting for a year.
- They need not be consecutive, but best to begin right after Eid.
Other recommended fasts:
- Mondays and Thursdays
- 13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month (White Nights)
- 27th, 28th, and 29th (Dark Nights)
- 15th of Sha‘ban
- 27th of Rajab
