Fasting in Ramadan: basics

Fasting (sawm) in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The fast lasts from the start of Fajr (dawn) until Maghrib (sunset) every day of the month. During it a Muslim abstains from food, drink and marital relations, and is encouraged to restrain speech and temper, to read the Quran and to give charity.

Who fasts

The fast is for adult Muslims who are healthy and resident. It is generally taught that children are not required to fast, though many begin to practise when they are able, and that people who are ill, travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding or elderly may be excused, and make up the fasts later or give food to the needy in some cases. Schools of thought differ on the details; anyone with a health condition should ask both a doctor and a scholar.

What breaks the fast

Eating or drinking on purpose breaks it. Eating by mistake does not, according to the common teaching. Questions about medicine, injections and other cases are for scholars, and we do not give rulings.

Practical tips for a healthy month

• Drink plenty of water between iftar and sehri and eat a balanced sehri with slow-release food such as oats, eggs, yogurt and fruit.
• Avoid too much fried and very sweet food at iftar; many people begin with dates and water and then eat a normal meal.
• Keep a light schedule at work if you can, and take care in hot weather.
• If you take regular medicine or have diabetes, talk to your doctor before Ramadan about adjusting the timing.

Dates of Ramadan depend on the sighting of the moon and can differ by a day between countries and communities (in India, often a day after Saudi Arabia). Times are calculated and may differ by a minute or two from your mosque's printed timetable, which often adds a few minutes of caution to the start of the fast. This page is not a religious ruling; follow your local mosque or a trusted scholar.