Allah (God) made it obligatory to fast (Sawm) in Ramadan. What breaks the fast? What is allowed by Allah during fasting? When is it allowed to break the fast? And how to repent of breaking the fast without a valid reason?
This is what we will explore today.
Here we will learn the following:
- What breaks the fast?
- What Breaks the Fast – Disagreed upon cases
- What doesn’t break the fast ?
- Who are allowed to break their fast?
- How to make up for the missed days in Ramadan?
- How much food should be given as compensation for breaking the fast in Ramadan?
- What to do if someone intentionally breaks the fast in Ramadan?
- What should we do?
- General advice while fasting
What breaks the fast?
Generally speaking, there are five agreed upon things that may break the fast
- Eating and Drinking
- What is similar to Eating and Drinking (Like smoking)
- Sexual Intercourse
- Masturbation
- The blood of menstruation or after birth (for women)
Fasting is mainly about fully abstaining from three things: eating and drinking, as well as sexual intercourse for spouses.
What is similar in meaning to those three has the same ruling as them, such as masturbation, Zina (adultery) and smoking. These deeds are not only big sins, but also fast breakers since the fast is broken by what is permitted of a similar type of those deeds.
For women, it is not allowed to fast or pray while being on period or after birth. So, blood of period of after birth breaks the fast.
But unlike prayer, women have to make up for the missed days in Ramadan, before the coming of the next Ramadan.
The mother of believers Aisha said:
“At the time of the Prophet we were ordered to make up for fast and not ordered to make up for prayer.”
(Hadith)
قالت عائشة -رضي الله عنها-: “كنا نؤمر بقضاء الصوم، ولا نؤمر بقضاء الصلاة”
This reflects a general principle in Islam: that Allah only orders us to do what we can. It would be very hard to continuously make up for missed prayers, but fasting for a week or so within 11 months is doable.
For more about fasting, read these articles:
What Breaks the Fast – Disagreed upon cases
There are some disagreed upon cases that may break the fasting, the main three are
- Intentional vomiting
- Bleeding through cupping (Hijama)
- Medical injections that are for nurturing or go in an artery.
Many scholars count cupping and vomiting among the fast breakers, while many others disagree with them due to evidence not being clear in this regard.
As for medical, needles, insertions and injections, they are completely dependent on analogy and comparison. That’s why many say that as long as they are not supplements or taken in an artery, they shouldn’t break the fast.
In case of disputes like this between scholars, it is recommended to take the cautious path as much as possible and avoid uncertainty.
Read more articles on Ramadan-related habits and effects for a more effective life:
How to lose weight during Ramadan
What doesn’t break the fast?
There are many things allowed during fasting, showcasing the mercy of Allah, mainly:
- Eating and drinking unintentionally (i.e., while forgetting about fasting.)
- Wet dreams.
- kissing the spouse during fasting
- foreplay between spouses so long that it doesn’t reach insertion or climax
And obviously, by night, sleeping with the spouse, eating and drinking are allowed–which, at the beginning, wasn’t!
Muslims at the beginning could only eat and drink between the last two prayers, and then they continue to fast, sometimes even uninterruptedly for a couple or more days! It’s Allah’s Mercy that he extended the allowed time all the way to dawn.
Read also:
Who are allowed to break their fast?
There are three types of people who are allowed to break their fast during Ramadan:
- The sick
- The Traveler
- The woman who’s on period or child after birth
Allah says:
“Allah only wills ease for you and does not will hardship for you.”
(البقرة 185)
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ۟
This verse shows a very important Islamic principle, which is (With hardship comes ease), and it is showcased by Allah’s legislations in fasting in the same verse. Out of God’s mercy, He made exceptions for many who would be heavily hindered by fasting. Read for more illustration on Ramadan verses in the Quran: Hadiths and Quran verses about Ramadan
How to make up for the missed days in Ramadan?
Keep in mind that even though some are allowed to break the fast, they have to make up for the missed days before the coming of the next Ramadan.
Breaking the fast of one day in Ramadan is compensated the fasting at a different time, in addition to feeding a needy person for each day –if the person can fast that day, but women are excluded from this added requirement.
So if a traveler or an ill person can fast, they are given the option to fast or not, but they have to feed a needy person per day in addition to making up for it on a different day.
Read also:
How much food should be given as compensation for breaking the fast in Ramadan?
The amount of food given as compensation is measured by a volume unit (not weight).
The valid volume to be given is two times of the full scope by the two hands (i.e., about one kilo and a half). It should be given of the local staple food, such as rice, dates, wheat, etc.
Read these articles for more worships and events elevating Muslims in Ramadan:
What to do if someone intentionally breaks the fast in Ramadan?
Firstly, you have to know that breaking the fast in Ramadan is a very heavy and major sin.
Fasting is the mark of obedience to Allah and worshiping Him, and breaking it is the mark of defiance. That’s very dangerous.
The first pillar of Islam is testifying that Allah is the only God, and the only one worthy of worship. Breaking that pillar is the worst sin and crime anyone can do, it is the unforgivable sin that Allah will punish those who die without repentance of it, for eternity!
The second pillar is prayer, and breaking it is very close to breaking the first pillar. Many scholars say that not praying, even if just out of laziness, gets the person out of Islam and he has to repent and re-enter again!
Fasting is the third pillar of Islam, and even though breaking it doesn’t make someone a non-Muslim, but it shows you how grave it is to break it. So, pay attention!
What should we do?
What we always should do if we fall into any sin is repentance.
Return to Allah, with sincere regret, honest remorse and strong resolve not to do it again and to make up for it. Compensate for the days missed by fasting and feeding the needy as Allah described for those with excuse.
The deeds of the heart are what determine the acceptance of repentance, so pay very close attention to them.
For more about Ramadan, read these:
General advice while fasting
Sins, especially lying, or backbiting, don’t break the fast, but they are very close to having a similar effect.
Committing sins while fasting may nullify the fasting reward, so even though the person doesn’t have to make up for the day, he isn’t necessarily rewarded for it!
Make sure to keep saying Istigfar (asking Allah’s forgiveness) and try to purify your fasting as much as you can
Fill your days with good deeds and make them count, as you never know if they would be your last.
It’s your time to explore the beauty of Islam and how Ramadan is a time for a real change in your life. Subscribe to Our Biweekly Newsletter for more articles about Islam and Ramadan!
