- Ramadan is here. You want to fast properly — but where do you start?
- This guide covers everything a beginner needs to know:
- The Importance of Siyaam
- Who has to fast in Ramadan according to Islam?
- How do I make the intention (niyyah) for fasting?
- What things break the fast during Ramadan?
- Can I take medicine or injections while fasting?
- What is fidya and kaffara for missed or broken fasts?
Ramadan is here. You want to fast properly — but where do you start?
This guide covers everything a beginner needs to know:
Let’s start with the basics.
Fasting in Arabic is Siyaam.
Linguistically, siyaam means to abstain from something, such as abstaining from speaking. In the shareeah, it is a direct reference to abstaining from food, drink and legal sexual intercourse during the days of the month of Ramadhaan.
The Importance of Siyaam
Fasting is a source of self-restraint, piety and God-consciousness. It was prescribed by Allah for the prophets before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the verses obligating the fast of the month of Ramadhaan, Allah has pointed out its goal or purpose:
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous [self-restraint, piety and God-consciousness]”.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that fasting is a protection from the Hell-fire:
“Fasting is a shield from the Hell-fire like one of your shields shielding you while fighting.”
Furthermore, it will also come as an intercessor on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said,
“The fast and the Quran shall come as intercessors on the Day of Resurrection. The fast shall say, ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and drink during the day, so let me intercede for him. ‘ The Quran will say, ‘I kept him from sleep during the night, so let me intercede for him. ‘Then they will be allowed to intercede.”
It is an act that demonstrates one’s sincerity to Allah. Only Allah is aware if a person truly fasted or not. No one can know if he secretly broke his fast. Therefore, Allah has a special reward for those who fast. This is stated in the following hadith qudsi, Allah has said,
“He leaves his food, drink and desires because of Me. Fasting is for My sake and I shall reward it. And every good deed shall be rewarded tenfold.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan with faith and hoping for its reward shall have all of his previous sins forgiven for him.”
Also important to note that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“While I was sleeping, two men came to me and took hold of my arms. They brought me to a steep mountain and said, ‘Climb.’ I said, ‘I am not able to.’ They said, ‘We will make it easy for you. ‘ So I climbed until I came to the summit of the mountain where I heard terrible cries. I said, ‘What are these cries?’ They said, ‘Those are the cries of the inhabitants of the Fire. ‘ Then they took me further until I came to a people who were strung up by their hamstrings, and their jawbones were tom and flowing with blood. I said, ‘Who are these people?’ He said, ‘Those are the people who break their fast before the time it was permissible to do so. “‘
Who has to fast in Ramadan according to Islam?
Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory upon every sane adult Muslim who has reached puberty. Exemptions apply to travelers, the sick, menstruating or postpartum women, and those with chronic illnesses where fasting poses harm. Children who have not reached puberty, the insane, and pregnant or nursing women fearing harm to themselves or their babies are not required to fast. These exemptions come from Qur’anic verses and authentic hadiths in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
How do I make the intention (niyyah) for fasting?
The intention for fasting must be made before dawn each night during Ramadan, resolving in the heart to fast for Allah the next day. It is sufficient to intend generally, such as “I intend to fast tomorrow for Ramadan,” without verbal recitation, though saying it quietly is recommended. This is based on the Prophet’s statement in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: “Actions are judged by intentions.” No intention is needed during the day if already intended the night before.
What things break the fast during Ramadan?
Fasting is broken by intentional eating, drinking any substance, smoking, sexual intercourse, vomiting intentionally, or using suppositories and enemas that provide nourishment. Anything that reaches the stomach through the throat, like food or water, nullifies the fast, as stated in hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari and Jami’ at-Tirmidhi. Unintentional acts like forgetting or being forced do not break the fast, requiring only repentance and continuation.
Can I take medicine or injections while fasting?
Injections that provide nourishment or medication entering the bloodstream, like intravenous drips or nutrient shots, break the fast if they substitute for food. Non-nutritional injections, such as vaccines, pain relief, or insulin under the skin or in muscles, do not break the fast according to predominant scholarly views from the sources. Oral medicines or syrups break it, so use alternatives like injections when possible, with reliance on authentic rulings in Sahih al-Bukhari.
What is fidya and kaffara for missed or broken fasts?
Fidya is feeding one poor person per missed fast for those unable to fast due to old age or chronic illness, as in Qur’an 2:184 (Muhsin Khan translation). Kaffara is the expiation for intentionally breaking a fast through intercourse or multiple invalidators, requiring either freeing a slave (now feeding 60 poor persons), fasting 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 poor persons if unable to fast. These distinctions are detailed in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; missed fasts from valid exemptions require only qada’ (make-up fasts later).
Now that you understand fasting, explore the other pillars of Islam:
👉 How to Pray — Step-by-Step Salah Guide 👉 Zakat in Islam — Who Pays and How to Calculate 👉 Hajj & Umrah — Complete Beginner’s Guide