Not eating and drinking during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, which millions of Muslims do. It is time for spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and devotion.
However, Islam also recognizes that there are situations in which fasting may become difficult or even hazardous.
In such situations, there are valid excuses that breaking one’s fast would not be sinful. This article discusses the reasons under which breaking the fast is allowed in Islam.
What are the Excuses for Breaking the Fast in Ramadan?
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a key duty for Muslims. But Islam gives allowances and mercy to those for whom completing the fast is difficult.
Under certain conditions, a person can break their fast without any sin. These include:
- If a person’s health worsens while fasting or recovery is delayed, illness permits breaking the fast and making it up later when well.
- If you’re traveling and your journey meets the Islamic travel criteria, you can break your fast and make it up later.
- If fasting may cause harm to the mother or child, a woman can break her fast and make it up later or pay fidya, as appropriate.
- Women are exempt from fasting during this time, but they must make up for the missed fasts later.
- A person must be old or sick with a chronic disease that prevents fasting. Instead of fasting, they must give fidya to feed a poor person for each fast missed.
- If fasting could endanger your life due to severe hunger or thirst, then you may break your fast.
- If someone is threatened with harm or coercion to break their fast, they are excused and can perform the fast later.
Islam teaches mercy and ease to make sure that fasting is not difficult for a person. People who miss fasts for valid reasons must make up for the fasts later on or offer Fidya as appropriate.
How to Make It Up for the Days You Didn’t Fast?
If you cannot fast during Ramadan due to a reasonable excuse, Islam allows you to make up for the missed days. How to make up for the missed fasts? depends on the reason for missing them. Here’s how:
1. Making Up (Qada) the Missed Fasts
A person who is unable to fast due to a temporary reason i.e. sickness, journey, menses, pregnancy, or breast-feeding, must fast the number of days he/she missed after Ramadan, before the next Ramadan. It is not necessary to do it on consecutive dates.
2. Paying Fidya (Compensation)
If a person is old or sick and cannot fast permanently and is not expected to recover, they do not make the fasts up. Instead, they feed a poor person for every day of fasting that they have missed. This is called fidya.
3. Kaffara (Expiation) for Deliberately Breaking the Fast
If a person breaks fast intentionally without a valid reason, then he/she has to: Fast for 60 consecutive days, or If unable to do so, feed 60 poor people.
4. Timely Repayment
It is best to make up missed fasts as soon as possible. If a person delays making up the fasts without a valid reason until the next Ramadan, some scholars say he/she must also pay fidya along with making up the fasts.
Muslims can make up for missed fasting days if they have a reason it is not recommended to
fast like a penalty or old age illness.
Is It Haram to Break Your Fast Without a Reason?
Yes, it is haram to break your fast during Ramadan without a valid reason. As fasting is obligatory for every adult Muslim, deliberately breaking fasting without excuse is a serious sin.
Events That Occur in the Case of Breaking the Fast with no Valid Reason:
1. Sin and Accountability
Intentionally breaking the fast without a valid excuse is disobedience to Allah. He committed a sin that requires sincere repentance.
2. Making Up the Fast (Qada)
You should fast for another day after Ramadan to make up for your missed fast.
3. Kaffara (Expiation)
If someone deliberately breaks their fast by eating, drinking, or having intercourse without a valid reason, they must: Fast for 60 consecutive days, or Feed 60 poor people if they cannot fast.
Exceptions to Kaffara If the fast was broken unintentionally (such as forgetting and eating), there is no sin and continue fasting.
Breaking the fast without a valid reason is serious because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Still, exceptions are made in Islam for those who truly cannot fast, as it is a religion of mercy.
Can You Still Fast If You Missed Suhoor?
If you miss Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal), you can still fast. It is Sunnah to have Suhoor since it gives one energy and blessings for fasting, but the fast doesn’t have to be valid. When you miss Suhoor, keep fasting until iftar.
- If you had the intention to fast before Fajr, then your fast is valid. Go ahead.
- If you wake up just before Fajr, make sure to drink some water even if you can’t have your meal.
- Break your fast with healthy, energy-giving foods that will keep you for the next day.
- Make Sure to Take Suhoor Seriously, Set multiple alarms, or prepare food in advance to avoid missing it again. Although it makes fasting more difficult, it does not affect your fast.
Which 5 Days Are Forbidden for Fasting in Islam?
According to Islam five days are stated when fasting is forbidden (haram).
1. Eid al-Fitr (1st Shawwal) (To be Celebrated this year) the day after Ramadan ends.
Since the feast day is a day of celebration, gratitude, and feasting, fasting isn’t appropriate.
Muslims are encouraged to eat and celebrate rather than fast.
2. Eid al-Adha
Fasting is encouraged to promote diversity in the Hajj activities. On the contrary, having something to eat will create sameness.
3, 4, & 5. The Three Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul-Hijjah)
The three days following Eid al-Adha. These are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah.
Exception: Pilgrims doing Hajj who couldn’t sacrifice an animal may fast these days.
Why Is Fasting Forbidden on These Days?
Islam emphasizes balance and these days are meant for worship, thankfulness, and communal joy instead of self-denial. Following these rules means fasting is a devotion. Not a difficulty.
Does Brushing Teeth Break Fast?
No, you will not break your fast by brushing your teeth, as long as you are careful not to swallow any water or toothpaste. Islam advocates good oral hygiene even while one is fasting.
Guidelines on Brushing Teeth During Fasting: Miswak – The Prophet ﷺ used a miswak while fasting.
Toothbrush without toothpaste: it is allowed and is good for keeping the mouth fresh. Toothpaste is allowed but it is better not to swallow anything.
What Do You Do If You Accidentally Swallow Water or Toothpaste?
If it happens unintentionally, your fast is still valid. If done deliberately, it will break the fast, and you will need to make up for it the next day (Qada). To avoid any risk, a few scholars suggest brushing your teeth before Fajr or after Maghrib, but it is not disallowed to brush your teeth while fasting.
Conclusion
For instance, in Islam, fasting in Ramadan is one of the great acts of worship, although it has also become clear that in some circumstances it might be impossible to observe the fast at all or difficult to keep it.
In such cases, provision is made for fasting to remain an act of worship, not a penalty. Fasting is allowed in cases of an excuse for legitimate grounds such as an illness, journey, or other justifications; and when this happens, one is allowed to make up fasts (Qada) or pay compensation for such fasts (Fidya).
While fasting is considered one of the major acts of worship, Islam states that a serious breach would involve the person in a lot of repentance and seeking atonement from God.
However, the religion allows for some flexibility and mercy so that fasting can be kept possible by everyone, according to their capability.
Ramadan, by its observance through fasting, with its adherence and knowledge and understanding by a person, allows a Muslim to experience the month through a sincere, respectful, and thoughtful approach, with allowance for understanding.
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