Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims as the prophet Muhammad said that ,“when the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are open and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained “ narrated by abu huraira.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Ramadan fasting guidelines and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is seen as a way to purify the soul, develop self-discipline, and feel with those who are poor and less fortunate.
To make the best use of Ramadan, you need to know Ramadan fasting rules and what breaks fast in Islam, so we will discuss Ramadan fasting guidelines in this article, keep reading.
What is Ramadan?
Before discussing Ramadan fasting rules, we need to take a closer look at what Ramadan is? Ramadan is the time of the year when it’s believed that the holy Quran was revealed from heaven to the prophet Muhammad (God’s blessing and peace be upon him).
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدً لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ
[ البقرة: 185]
In English
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).
Ramadan is also a time for increased prayer, reading of the Quran, and acts of charity as rewards are multiplied by 70 during Ramadan so it’s a great chance for all Muslims.
The month ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marking the end of Ramadan. During Eid, it’s forbidden to fast and this is one of the most important Ramadan fasting guidelines.
When does a muslim fast?
Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar as we mentioned before and the exact timing of Ramadan varies each year because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which is about 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, Ramadan shifts earlier by about 10 to 12 days each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Narrated by ibn umar: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying “when you see the crescent of the month of Ramadan, starts fasting, and when you see the crescent of the month of Shawwal, stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast and you can’t see it then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan ( as of 30 days)”. Sahih Al-Bukhari
Muslims around the world look for the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of Ramadan, which begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon after the end of the previous month, Sha’ban.
The duration of Ramadan is typically 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new moon is sighted, and it concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Ramadan fasting rules and what can’t you do during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, sexual relations and other physical needs.
Fasting or sawm which is the 4th pillar of Islam means non permission of eating or drinking during daylight hours every day throughout the whole month, in addition to other things such as
- Lying
- Intimacy
- Swearing
- Fighting
- Cigarette smoking
- Taking any medications even without liquids
- Chewing gum
- Anger and jealousy emotions
- Gossiping
You should also try to decrease other distractions in life such as listening to music or watching tv and focus on enriching your relationship with Allah.
Ramadan is a great chance for everyone to cleanse his soul and mind as restricted Ramadan fasting rules provide extra time to strengthen your relationship with Allah and recite the Quran.
How can I maximize my Ramadan experience ?
- Set your intention
- Seek forgiveness
- Enjoy the blessings
- Stay hydrated and drink enough water in non fasting hours
- Increase charity and generosity
- Intense study of the Quran
- Extra prayer
- Follow all Ramadan fasting guidelines
We hope you have a great Ramadan experience full of accepted supplications, Ameen.
Suhoor meaning in Islam
also known as pre-dawn meal is a meal taken by Muslims in the early morning before fasting and before fajr prayer during Ramadan and it’s one of the most beneficial Ramadan fasting rules as our prophet Muhammad (God’s blessing and peace be upon you him) said that “ take suhur as there is a blessing in it” Hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Suhoor meal will provide you with energy during all fasting hours so it’s recommended to take comprehensive meal such as
- Complex carbohydrates like oats ,buckwheat and lentils
- Fruits and vegetables rich in fibers
- Protein foods like chicken, eggs and beans.
- Milk based foods and yogurt
- Plenty of water and fluids
Getting sick before ramadan meaning
Sickness is one of the most common excuses which make it possible not to fast during Ramadan based on verses on the holy Quran:
(فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾ [ البقرة: 185]
In English
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), his must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.(surah Al baqarah)
If you break your fast because of sickness or journey, you should wait until your recovery and fast the days that you missed.
But if you have chronic disease and there is no hope for recovery or healing which means you cannot fast Ramadan or other days, you have to pay fidyah.
Fidyah or ransom means feeding a poor person for every day you missed and didn’t fast but this one of Ramadan fasting rules which is allowed only for those who have no hope for recovery or being able to fast as it’s not permissible to pay fidyah instead of making up the fast.
Who is exempt from fast in the Quran?
According to Ramadan fasting rules in Islam, there are some categories of people who are exempt from fast in the Quran including:
- Pregnant or nursing
- Menstruating
- Traveling
- Ill
- Young children
- Elderly
If you are one of the previous categories, you should compensate these days and fast after Ramadan when you are able to fast or pay fidyah as we mentioned before.
But if you don’t fit one of these categories and break your fast, Ramadan fasting rules dictate that you must pay kaffarah which equals the value of feeding 60 poor people for each day you missed.
If you break your fast intentionally without any accepted reason, you need to fast for 60 consecutive days and if you miss one day from those 60 days, you should restart from day number one and these are clear Ramadan fasting guidelines which each Muslim must follow.
What breaks fast in islam?
What breaks fast in Islam is one of the most confusing Ramadan fasting rules, so we can classify them into two portions:
1.Things coming out of the body
- Vomiting
- Intercourse
- Menstruation and nifas
- Cupping
- Masturbation
2.Things entering the body
- Eating and drinking
- Eye and ear drops
- Taking injections
- Smoking and chewing gum
Can you drink water in ramadan?
No
one of the most important Ramadan fasting rules is abstaining from drinking water or any other liquids during daylight hours in Ramadan as it’s recommended to drink plenty of water as possible as you can in the early morning and in a suhoor meal to avoid thirst throughout the fasting hours.
Summary
After knowing Ramadan fasting rules, we should mention the last one of these rules which is zakat al-fitr that every Muslim has to make his donations before Eid al-fitr. Then you can enjoy Eid celebrations and all Ramadan fasting guidelines come to a close.