Ramadan Fasting Rules: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it an obligatory religious duty for all adult Muslims. Known as Sawm in Arabic, the fast requires abstaining from eating, drinking, and certain other activities from dawn to dusk. There are specific rules around what is allowed and prohibited during the fast.
What are the rules for fasting during Ramadan?
Fasting during Ramadan means complete abstinence from all food, drink, intimate relations, and smoking from dawn until sunset. Ramadan Fasting Rules, There are strict rules around what breaks or invalidates the fast:
Eating and drinking
- Eating or drinking anything intentionally will invalidate the fast
- If the fast is broken, it will need to be compensated by fasting an equal number of days later
Oral intake
- Swallowing vomit intentionally
- Swallowing debris from teeth accidentally
- Swallowing saliva after rinsing mouth accidentally
Inhaling
- Smoking or inhaling anything into the lungs accidentally or intentionally
Physical intimacy
- Engaging in sexual intercourse or masturbation
- Ejaculation for men
What is not allowed during Ramadan?
There are several things that a fasting person must abstain from between dawn and dusk:
Eating and drinking
- No food or drink including water
- No chewing gum or mints that have flavor
Oral intake
- No oral medications or supplements
- No dental products like mouthwash
Smoking
- No smoking cigarettes or vaping
Physical intimacy
- No sexual contact or intimacy leading to discharge
Other
- No intravenous fluids or medications
- No unnecessary vomiting
Avoiding these actions is key to fasting validity. Things like rinsing the mouth and swallowing saliva accidentally are exceptions.
Can you eat during Ramadan fasting?
Eating during Ramadan fasting hours is strictly prohibited and breaks the fast immediately. This includes eating anything solid food, liquid food, snacks, sweets, or taking any oral medication or supplements with nutritional value.
If an act like this is done intentionally during fasting hours, it invalidates the fast and requires Qada (making up missed fast at a later date).
Can we drink water during Ramadan?
Drinking water during fasting hours in Ramadan breaks the fast immediately, as complete abstinence from all food and drink is required when fasting. This includes water, juices, tea, soft drinks, or any other liquids consumed intentionally.
Like eating, drinking intentionally invalidates the fast and requires making up for that missed day later. Even liquid medicines or supplements are prohibited.
Can I kiss my wife while fasting in Ramadan?
Kissing
Kissing that does not lead to the risk of taking anything oral into the mouth or discharge is allowed. Simple kisses without lustful intent do not break the fast for either spouse or lead to fast invalidity. However, intense kissing that stimulates physical arousal can invalidate the fast and should be avoided.
Intimacy
Any sexual contact or intimacy that leads to intentional ejaculation or discharge automatically invalidates the fast for both spouses. This includes masturbation. Natural wet dreams that occur do not break the fast.
Note: Masturbation is a Forbidden act and it will affect the fasting and the reward of fasting.
Can I wet my mouth during Ramadan?
It is permitted to wet one’s mouth during Ramadan fasting, but the liquid should not be swallowed intentionally. Small amounts of liquid can sometimes be swallowed accidentally with minimal mouth rinsing.
However, gargling excessively and swallowing that liquid would invalidate the fast. The mouth can be rinsed lightly to keep it moist without allowing much liquid to reach the throat.
How do I stop thirst when fasting?
It can be challenging to fast in Ramadan without water, especially in hot weather. Here are some tips to prevent feeling thirsty when fasting:
Hydrate well before fast
Drink plenty of water and limit salt/spices at suhoor meals to prevent thirst later on. Fruits also provide hydration.
Avoid salty foods
Consuming less salt in the pre-fast meal helps lower thirst during fasting hours.
Rinse mouth
Rinsing the mouth with a small sip of water can relieve temporary dryness without hydrating the throat much.
Distract yourself
Keeping occupied with work, worship routines, or spending time with others can take your mind off feeling thirsty while fasting.
Willpower and mental resilience are also important when fasting for self-purification.
Why is water not allowed during fasting?
Consuming any food or drink including water breaks the Ramadan fast immediately because the fast requires complete abstinence from not just food but also water and liquids. Allowing water but not food would defeat the purpose of fasting for purification.
Going without basic physical needs like water is meant to redirect focus away from worldly cravings and towards spiritual reflection. This builds devotion to God through self-sacrifice and discipline.
Does your Roza break if you accidentally drink water?
Accidentally drinking water during Ramadan fasting typically does not invalidate the fast or break the Roza. However, intentionally drinking water certainly does.
There is no sin or need for makeup fasts if water is swallowed completely by accident in a negligible amount. But intentionally drinking any amount of water, even a sip, breaks the fasting immediately. Spitting it out does not count later.
So accidental drinking may be forgiven but intentional intake always breaks fast. And this is from the best Ramadan Fasting Rules.
Who Cannot do water fasting?
Though fasting is an obligatory duty in Islam for all healthy adult Muslims, some groups of people may be exempted or require additional modifications to the fast:
Children
Children who have not reached adolescence are not obligated to fast for the full duration. They can quickly and partially learn.
Sick people
Those suffering from temporary or long-term illnesses that make fasting difficult can skip and make up later once recovered.
Travelers
Travelers are allowed to break the fast while on the journey and then complete later the total number they missed. Hardship exceptions can apply.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women for whom fasting is overly taxing on health and that of the fetus can make up the days later post-delivery.
Those with health risks requiring food/water intake may need to utilize these concessions Allah has provided in the Quran.
What can I drink while fasting?
Nothing can be intentionally drunk during Ramadan fasting hours besides air that is naturally inhaled and exhaled. Water or other oral intake breaks the fast even if not nutritionally valuable.
If unintentional swallowing of saliva, oral debris, or negligible water occurs reflexively, the fast remains valid. But intentional drinking or swallowing anything that can be considered as oral intake voids the fast immediately.
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