Rules of fasting in Ramadan
The rules of fasting are simple at their core: from Fajr to sunset, no food, drink or marital relations, with the intention of fasting for Allah. Here is what breaks the fast and what does not, who is exempt, what to do about missed fasts, and when children should start.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
The basics
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become mindful of Allah” (Al-Baqarah 2:183). The fast runs from the start of Fajr until sunset. Make the intention in your heart each night before Fajr (or, in the Hanafi school, before midday for a Ramadan fast). Eat suhoor: “Take suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923). Break the fast promptly at sunset with dates or water.
What breaks the fast
| Act | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Eating or drinking on purpose | Breaks the fast; make up the day. Eating or drinking by forgetting does not: “Allah has fed him and given him drink” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1933). |
| Sexual intercourse during the day | Breaks the fast and requires both making up the day and an expiation (kaffarah). |
| Deliberately vomiting | Breaks the fast; vomiting unintentionally does not (Sunan Abi Dawud 2380, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 720). |
| Menstruation or post-natal bleeding | The fast is not valid; the days are made up later. |
| Smoking and vaping | Break the fast, according to scholars today. |
| Nutritional injections or drips | Break the fast according to most contemporary scholars. |
What does not break the fast
- Brushing teeth or using a miswak (avoid swallowing toothpaste).
- Showering or swimming without swallowing water.
- Non-nutritional injections, blood tests and vaccinations, according to most contemporary scholars.
- Eye drops and ear drops, according to many scholars.
- Smelling perfume, and applying lip balm.
- Tasting food with the tip of the tongue without swallowing, when needed.
Who does not have to fast
| Who | What to do |
|---|---|
| Illness | If fasting causes harm or delays recovery: make up the days later (Al-Baqarah 2:184). For chronic illness with no hope of recovery, pay fidyah instead. |
| Travel | A traveller may break the fast and make it up later. |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | If fasting risks harm to the mother or baby, she may break the fast and make it up, with details of fidyah differing between schools. |
| Old age | Those unable to fast pay fidyah: feeding a poor person for each day. |
| Children | Not obligatory before puberty, though children are encouraged to practise. |
Rulings on medical treatment have details that differ between scholars. If you are ill, pregnant or on medication, ask your doctor and a qualified scholar.
More on Ramadan
Dates and iftar times: Ramadan 2027 UK. At iftar: the dua for breaking the fast. The night of power: Laylat al-Qadr. Fasting is the fourth of the pillars of Islam, and Ramadan is the month of the Quran; see the Ramadan Quran reading plan.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should children fast?
Fasting becomes obligatory at puberty. The Companions trained their children to fast before then, even giving them toys made of wool to distract them (Sahih al-Bukhari 1960). Many UK families start with half-days or weekends from around age 7–10.
What if I forget and eat while fasting?
Your fast is still valid. Stop as soon as you remember and complete the fast (Sahih al-Bukhari 1933).
Can I take medication while fasting?
Tablets swallowed by mouth break the fast. Talk to your GP or pharmacist about changing timings to suhoor and iftar; if you need medication during the day, you are exempt and make up the days later or pay fidyah.
What is fidyah and how much is it in the UK?
Fidyah is feeding one poor person for each missed fast, for those who cannot fast and cannot make it up. UK charities and mosques publish an amount each year, often around £5 to £10 per day; check with your mosque.
Prepare for Ramadan with a teacher
Three free one-to-one Quran or Islamic studies lessons in UK time.