Ramadan Guide

"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." (Quran 2:185). Fasting Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you, that you may become righteous." (Quran 2:183).

The Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Bukhari 38, Sahih Muslim 760).

"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained." (Sahih Bukhari 1899, Sahih Muslim 1079).

The intention is in the heart. The majority of scholars (Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) hold that the niyyah for an obligatory Ramadan fast must be made before Fajr each night. Hanafi: niyyah is valid until before Zawal (midday) for Ramadan since the obligation is determined.

The Prophet (saw) said: "Eat Suhoor, for in Suhoor there is barakah (blessing)." (Sahih Bukhari 1923, Sahih Muslim 1095). Even a sip of water counts.

"People will continue to be in good as long as they hasten breaking the fast." (Sahih Bukhari 1957, Sahih Muslim 1098). Break the fast as soon as Maghrib enters.

Jibril used to review the Quran with the Prophet (saw) every Ramadan, and twice in the year of his passing. (Sahih Bukhari 4998). Tarawih is structured around a full khatm.

The Prophet (saw) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramadan. (Sahih Bukhari 6). Charity in Ramadan is especially loved by Allah.

Standing the nights of Ramadan in qiyam is from the Sunnah. "Whoever stands [in prayer] in Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Bukhari 37).

The Prophet (saw) used to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, until Allah took him. (Sahih Bukhari 2026, Sahih Muslim 1172). I'tikaf is staying in the masjid with the intention of devotion.

Search for it in the last ten odd nights. See the dedicated /laylat-al-qadr guide for details.

Whoever eats or drinks intentionally must make up that day. Forgetfully eating or drinking does not break the fast: "Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who fed him and gave him drink." (Sahih Bukhari 1933).

Sexual intercourse during a Ramadan day breaks the fast and requires both qada (making up the day) and kaffarah (expiation: freeing a slave; if not, fasting two consecutive months; if not, feeding sixty poor people). (Sahih Bukhari 1936, Sahih Muslim 1111).

"Whoever is overcome by vomit does not have to make up the fast, but whoever vomits deliberately must make it up." (Sunan Abu Dawud 2380, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 720, graded sahih).

A menstruating or postnatal woman does not fast; she makes up missed days later. (Sahih Bukhari 1951).

Leaving Islam invalidates the fast.

See above. Continue the fast and the day is valid.

See above (Sunan Abu Dawud 2380).

A wet dream does not break the fast. The pen of obligation is lifted from the sleeper. (Sunan Abu Dawud 4403). Ghusl is required, but the fast remains valid.

The Prophet (saw) used the miswak while fasting. Toothpaste is allowed by most contemporary scholars provided nothing is swallowed.

A small blood draw or wound does not break the fast in the view of the majority. Donating a large amount of blood is disliked by many because of weakness, not because it breaks the fast.

Smelling does not break the fast. Inhaling thick smoke (like bakhoor) deeply on purpose is avoided by some scholars.

Most contemporary scholars permit asthma inhalers and eye/ear drops. There is genuine fiqhi disagreement on inhalers; consult a trusted scholar if you require regular puffs.

"And whoever is ill or on a journey, then a number of other days." (Quran 2:185). The traveller may break the fast and make it up later.

If fasting harms recovery, breaking the fast is permitted; the days are made up later. If illness is permanent and no recovery is expected, fidya (feeding a poor person per missed day) is paid.

Must not fast. Makes up the missed days later. (Sahih Bukhari 1951).

May break the fast if she fears for herself or the child. Hanafi/Maliki: qada (make up) only. Shafi'i/Hanbali: if she fears only for the child (not herself), both qada and fidya per day. Consult a scholar.

If unable to fast and not expected to recover, fidya is paid for each missed day (food sufficient for one poor person).

The Prophet (saw) and Zayd ibn Thabit ate Suhoor; after they finished, Zayd estimated about fifty verses (about ten minutes) until the adhan. (Sahih Bukhari 1921).

See "What to do" above. Begin with dates and water if available. The Prophet (saw) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if not, then dry dates; if not, then sips of water. (Sunan Abu Dawud 2356, graded hasan by al-Albani).

The dua of the fasting person at the time of breaking the fast is not turned away. (Sunan Ibn Majah 1753).

Many people lose the spiritual benefit of fasting by feasting at Iftar. The Sunnah is moderation: "A few mouthfuls to keep his back straight." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2380, hasan).

Tarawih is sunnah mu'akkadah (a confirmed sunnah) for both men and women. The Prophet (saw) prayed it in congregation a few nights, then stopped attending publicly out of fear it would be made obligatory. (Sahih Bukhari 924, Sahih Muslim 761).

The two main practices: (a) eight rakahs plus three witr, based on Aisha (ra)'s description of the Prophet's qiyam (Sahih Bukhari 1147, Sahih Muslim 738), and (b) twenty rakahs plus three witr, the practice of Umar (ra) and the majority of the four schools. Both are valid. The disagreement is which is more virtuous; both reach the Sunnah of standing the night.

Praying behind a hafidh in the masjid is the established Sunnah of the Companions during Ramadan. Praying at home is also valid and was the Prophet's ongoing practice after the first nights.

Witr is prayed at the end of qiyam in Ramadan. If you pray Tahajjud later, do not pray a second witr: 'There are no two witrs in one night.' (Sunan Abu Dawud 1439, hasan).

Staying in the masjid with the intention of worship. The Prophet (saw) used to do i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. (Sahih Bukhari 2026).

Niyyah, staying in a masjid, abstaining from sexual relations and from leaving the masjid except for genuine need. The minimum duration: per Hanafi the obligatory i'tikaf is one full day; the optional minimum is debated, with some classical scholars accepting any time spent in the masjid with the niyyah.

A woman may do i'tikaf in the masjid; this is established in the Sunnah of the wives of the Prophet (saw) (Sahih Bukhari 2033). Hanafi and the prevalent Hanbali view: a woman may do i'tikaf in the place of prayer in her home.

Leaving for an unavoidable need (toilet, ghusl that cannot be done in the masjid) does not break it. Leaving for any other matter without need invalidates it.

The Prophet (saw) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory on every Muslim, free or slave, male or female, young or old: one sa' of dates, barley, raisins, or cottage cheese, paid before the Eid prayer. (Sahih Bukhari 1503, Sahih Muslim 984). Most contemporary scholars accept its monetary equivalent (Hanafi explicitly).

It is haram to fast on the day of Eid al-Fitr. (Sahih Bukhari 1992, Sahih Muslim 1138).

See the dedicated /eid-al-fitr page for the prayer method per madhab.

Yes. Swallowing one's own saliva does not break the fast.

A genuine mistake of timing does not break the fast in the view of the majority of contemporary scholars (using clear timetables). However, the Hanafi position requires qada (making up the day) for eating after the true Fajr even by mistake. The safer practice is to stop ten minutes before the official Fajr.

Rinsing the mouth does not break it (the Prophet [saw] used the miswak while fasting). Swallowing it does. Avoid exaggerated rinsing during Ramadan: "Be vigorous in rinsing the nose, except when fasting." (Sunan Abu Dawud 142).

Make up the missed days before the next Ramadan. If a person delays without excuse until the next Ramadan, the four Sunni schools (except the Hanafi) require both qada and fidya for the delay. Hanafi: only qada.

Oral and injected nutrient medication breaks the fast. Non-nutrient injections (e.g. insulin, antibiotics) do not break the fast in the view of contemporary fatwa councils. Inhalers are debated; consult a scholar.

Many people end the day with a heavy iftar buffet and skip Tarawih due to fatigue. Eat moderately so you can stand in qiyam.

Eating Suhoor is barakah from the Prophet (saw). Even a small amount counts.

Personal Quran reading is more contemplative than rapid Tarawih recitation. Read with reflection (tadabbur) on your own as well.

Fajr remains obligatory. Set an alarm. Tarawih is optional but Fajr is fardh.

"Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink." (Sahih Bukhari 1903).

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Dhahaba aẓ-ẓama'u wa abtallati al-'urūqu wa thabata al-ajru in shā' Allāh

The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allāhumma innaka 'afuwwun tuḥibbu al-'afwa fa-'fu 'annī

O Allah, You are the One who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Rabbanā taqabbal minnā innaka anta as-Samī'u al-'Alīm

Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.