Fasting (Sawm)

Fasting (sawm) is the fourth pillar of Islam, obligatory in the month of Ramadan for every adult Muslim. Allah Most High says: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (al-Baqarah 2:183). The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins will be forgiven" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Conditions for the Obligation of Fasting: Fasting is obligatory upon every Muslim who has: reached puberty; is sane; is able (not severely ill or in extreme old age); and is a resident (not a traveler). Women in menstruation or nifas do not fast during those days but must make them up (qada') afterward.

Pillars (Arkan) of Fasting: The two pillars of a valid fast are: (1) intention (niyyah) — for the obligatory fast of Ramadan, it must be formed each night before Fajr; (2) abstaining from all that breaks the fast from the entry of Fajr until the setting of the sun.

What Breaks the Fast (Muftirat): The following nullify the fast when done deliberately and with full knowledge: (1) Eating or drinking anything, including water; (2) Sexual intercourse; (3) Intentional vomiting; (4) Anything introduced into the body through a normal entry point that reaches the stomach or brain — this includes injections that provide nourishment (though the majority of scholars permit medically necessary injections that do not nourish); (5) Ejaculation through deliberate stimulation other than intercourse; (6) Cupping (hijamah) — a specific ruling of the Hanbali school based on the hadith: "The cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast" (Abu Dawud), though this is disputed by the majority of scholars; (7) Menstruation or nifas beginning at any point during the day.

Expiation (Kaffarah) for Breaking the Fast: One who deliberately has sexual intercourse during a day of Ramadan must expiate: freeing a slave; if unable, fasting sixty consecutive days; if unable, feeding sixty poor people. This kaffarah applies only to intercourse, not other fast-breakers.

Making Up Missed Fasts (Qada'): Whoever breaks the fast of Ramadan for a valid reason — travel, illness, or menstruation — must make up the missed days. Qada' may be performed at any time during the year before the next Ramadan. Delaying without excuse until the next Ramadan requires both making up the day and paying a fidyah (feeding a poor person per day) according to the Hanbali school.

Voluntary Fasting: The Sunnah recommends fasting six days of Shawwal, the day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah), the day of Ashura (10th Muharram) with the 9th, Mondays and Thursdays, and the white days (13th, 14th, 15th of each lunar month).