According to the Hijri calendar, fasting during the ninth month—Ramadan—is obligatory for all believers. From the time of Fajr (dawn prayer) until Maghrib (sunset), all forms of indulgence that could invalidate the fast must be abstained from. This includes food, drink, and sexual relations between spouses. The essence of fasting lies in renouncing pleasures and comforts that weaken spiritual resolve.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship especially beloved to the Creator, Allah. While Allah grants reward for all righteous deeds, regarding fasting He has said:
“Fasting is for Me, and I Myself will reward it.”
This indicates the immeasurable reward associated with fasting. In Ramadan, even optional (sunnah) deeds are rewarded like obligatory (fard) acts, and obligatory acts are rewarded seventy times over.
Ramadan is a period of spiritual training for the believer. The goal of fasting is to discipline the soul by restraining all kinds of human desires and thus achieving inner purification. It also brings secondary benefits such as improved health and empathy toward the suffering of the poor and hungry.
Believers view Ramadan as a month of mercy, compassion, forgiveness of sins, and protection from Hellfire.
One of the most unique attributes of Ramadan is that the Qur’an—the guiding light and explanatory code for humankind—was revealed in this month. Within this month is a night more sacred than a thousand months: the Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree).
Types of Fasts
There are two main types of fasts in Islam:
- Obligatory (fard)
- Voluntary (nafl/sunnah)
Fasting during the daytime in Ramadan is obligatory.
When Does Ramadan Begin?
Islam recognizes two methods for determining the start of a lunar month:
- Sighting the new moon after sunset on the 29th day of the preceding month.
- Completing 30 days of the preceding month.
Once Ramadan is confirmed through either method, fasting becomes obligatory.
Who Must Fast?
To be obligated to fast during Ramadan, the following conditions must be met:
1) One must be a Muslim
Fasting is not obligatory upon a disbeliever, and their fasts will not be accepted. However, if a Muslim apostatises and later returns to Islam, they must make up for the missed fasts.
2) One must have reached puberty
In Islam, puberty is recognized either:
- Upon reaching 15 lunar years, or
- Onset of menstruation (for girls) or seminal discharge (for boys)
Fasting is not obligatory for children who haven’t reached puberty.
3) One must be of sound mind
Those who are mentally unwell or insane are not obligated to fast.
4) One must be ritually pure from menstruation (ḥayḍ) and postpartum bleeding (nifās)
Women undergoing either of these states must not fast, and it is sinful to do so. They are required to make up the missed fasts after regaining purity.
5) One must be physically able to fast
Those who are elderly or chronically ill and have no hope of recovery are exempt from fasting. Instead, they must feed the poor for each missed fast—approximately 800 milliliters of staple food of their region. If their health later improves, they do not have to make up the fasts.
Who Must Make Up Missed Fasts?
The following are required to make up missed fasts:
- Women in menstruation
- Women in postpartum period
- Women still experiencing postpartum bleeding
- Apostates who return to Islam
- Those who were unconscious for the entire day (without a valid reason)
- Those who deliberately rendered themselves unconscious, insane, or intoxicated, even for a moment during the day
- Those who, despite meeting all requirements for fasting, missed their fast due to valid, accidental, or invalid reasons
When Is It Permissible or Obligatory to Break a Fast?
- Illness or travel that makes fasting extremely difficult or harmful. Examples include: danger to bodily health, risk of organ failure, disease worsening, or emergence of new diseases.
- Experiencing intense hunger or thirst
- Failing to save a life due to inability to function while fasting
- A pregnant or breastfeeding woman who reasonably fears harm to herself, the fetus, or the nursing child if she continues to fast.
When Should Missed Fasts Be Made Up?
Missed fasts during Ramadan must be made up before the next Ramadan. Delaying without valid reason is sinful.
If a person fails to make up missed fasts before the next Ramadan, then in addition to fasting, they must give 800 milliliters of staple food to a poor person for each missed fast.
