What Breaks a Fast During Ramadan? A Clear Guide

Fasting (sawm) in Ramadan means refraining from food, drink and marital relations from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib), with the intention to fast. The Qur'an describes this window in Surah al-Baqarah 2:187. It also gives allowances for people who are ill or travelling, who make up the days later (2:184-185). Something breaks the fast, then, when it is done deliberately inside this window, knowing that you are fasting.

Deliberate eating and drinking

Knowingly eating or drinking anything, even a small amount, breaks the fast. The day is made up after Ramadan. If you are unsure whether a product counts, the safer course is to wait until iftar.

Smoking, vaping and hookah

Inhaling smoke or vapor deliberately during fasting hours breaks the fast. Many people use Ramadan as a chance to reduce or quit nicotine, and a gradual plan before the month begins can make the first days easier.

Deliberately inducing vomiting

Making yourself vomit breaks the fast and the day is made up. Vomiting that happens on its own does not break the fast and needs no make-up, as long as you do not deliberately swallow it back (Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah).

Intimate relations

Marital relations during fasting hours break the fast. Scholars explain that deliberate relations in a Ramadan day call for repentance, making up the day and, in the view of most schools, an expiation (kaffarah). The details differ by school of thought and circumstance, so please ask a scholar about your particular case.

Menstruation and postpartum bleeding

If bleeding begins during the day, the fast for that day ends, even in the last minutes before sunset. Women do not fast while bleeding and make up the missed days after Ramadan. This is an allowance, not a failing.

Forgetting

If you eat or drink because you forgot you were fasting, the fast remains valid. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that the person should complete the fast, because it was Allah who fed and gave drink to them. This is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Everyday hygiene

• Brushing your teeth or using a miswak is permitted. Take care not to swallow anything (International Islamic Fiqh Academy, 1997).
• Rinsing the mouth and nose during wudu is permitted, as long as you do not swallow the water.
• Swallowing your own saliva does not break the fast (Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah).

Medical care: where scholars agree and where they differ

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy lists several treatments that do not invalidate the fast, including eye drops, ear drops, nasal drops or sprays (if nothing is swallowed), creams and skin patches, oxygen, dental care, and subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous injections other than those that give nutrition. It left some questions, such as inhalers, blood tests, dialysis and cupping, open for further study (resolution of the 10th session, Jeddah, 1997). Scholars and fatwa councils have since given different answers on some of these, so a doctor and a qualified scholar can advise you best.

If you take regular medicine, have diabetes, are pregnant or have another health condition, speak with your doctor before Ramadan. Islam gives allowances for people who are ill, and a doctor can help you plan safely. Some doctors can also suggest moving a dose or a procedure to the evening when it causes no harm.

1. 1
   Did I do it by mistake or forgetting? Then the fast stands. Stop, and continue.
2. 2
   Did I do it knowingly? Check the table above. If it is a clear invalidator, make up the day after Ramadan.
3. 3
   Is it a medical or modern question? Treat it as a question where scholars may differ. Ask a qualified scholar or your local imam, and ask your doctor whether the treatment can wait until iftar.
4. 4
   Is a health condition making fasting hard? Read our guides on who should fast during Ramadan and making the most of Ramadan when you can't fast.

• Plan suhoor. Slow-digesting foods such as oats, whole grains and protein help you feel full for longer. See our suhoor and iftar nutrition guide.
• Drink enough between iftar and suhoor. Our guide on staying hydrated during Ramadan has a simple routine.
• Prepare early. Ease your first days by adjusting your sleep and caffeine habits before the month starts.
• Ask early. Questions are best answered before the fast. A local imam can help with your specific situation.

For the full list of obligations and etiquette, see the rules of Ramadan. Planning ahead? Our Ramadan 2027 dates guide explains when the month is expected to begin.