What Breaks a Fast in Islam?

What Breaks a Fast in Islam?

Fasting (Ṣawm) during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, serving as an act of worship, self-discipline, and spiritual reflection. Muslims refrain from food, drink, and other specific actions from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib), observing the fast as prescribed in the Qur’an and exemplified in the Sunnah. While fasting, it is essential to understand what invalidates the fast to ensure it is performed correctly and accepted by Allah.

This article provides a comprehensive discussion on what breaks a fast in Islam, backed by evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith, with Arabic references.

The Qur’anic Foundation of Fasting

The obligation of fasting is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an:

“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ”

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

In the subsequent verses, Allah provides guidance on the duration of fasting and permissible actions:

“وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ”

“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until sunset.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187)

General Principles of What Breaks a Fast

Acts that invalidate the fast fall into two broad categories:

• Deliberate Actions: Conscious and intentional actions that contradict the purpose of fasting, such as eating, drinking, or engaging in prohibited acts.
• Unintentional Acts or Excusable Circumstances: Actions or situations that may not necessarily invalidate the fast due to forgetfulness or unavoidable conditions, such as illness or menstruation.

Specific Actions That Break a Fast

Eating and Drinking Intentionally

The deliberate consumption of food or drink invalidates the fast, as fasting inherently involves abstaining from these necessities. This rule is derived from the Qur’an and emphasized in Hadith.

“وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ”

“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also clarified:

“إِذَا نَسِيَ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ”

“If someone forgets and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 1933, Sahih Muslim: 1155)

Intentional Vomiting

Vomiting intentionally breaks the fast, as indicated in the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:

“مَنْ ذَرَعَهُ الْقَيْءُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ، وَمَنْ اسْتَقَاءَ عَمْدًا فَلْيَقْضِ”

“Whoever is overcome by vomiting is not required to make up the fast, but whoever vomits intentionally must make it up.”
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 2380, Tirmidhi: 720)

Sexual Intercourse

Engaging in sexual relations during the daytime in Ramadan invalidates the fast and requires expiation (kaffarah). Allah states:

“أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَائِكُمْ”

“It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations].”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187)

The expiation for this act, as per Hadith, is severe:

“أَتَىٰ رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: هَلَكْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: وَمَا أَهْلَكَكَ؟ قَالَ: وَقَعْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فِي رَمَضَانَ”

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I am doomed, O Messenger of Allah!” He asked, “What has happened to you?” The man said, “I had intercourse with my wife during Ramadan.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 1936, Sahih Muslim: 1111)

The expiation involves fasting for 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 poor people.

Menstruation or Postpartum Bleeding

Women experiencing menstruation (hayd) or postpartum bleeding (nifas) must break their fast, even if the bleeding begins just moments before sunset.

“أَلَيْسَ إِذَا حَاضَتْ لَمْ تُصَلِّ وَلَمْ تَصُمْ؟”

“Is it not true that when she menstruates, she does not pray or fast?”
(Sahih Bukhari: 304, Sahih Muslim: 79)

The missed fasts must be made up later.

Ejaculation Due to Deliberate Actions

The deliberate act of ejaculation, whether through masturbation or other means, breaks the fast. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized control over desires:

“يَدَعُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي”

“He gives up his food, drink, and desires for My sake.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 1894, Sahih Muslim: 1151)

Intake of Non-Nourishing Substances

Certain non-food items introduced into the body through deliberate means (e.g., smoking or intravenous injections for nutrition) invalidate the fast.

Scholars have debated whether non-nourishing substances like inhalers or medications break the fast. The general principle is that if the substance reaches the stomach or bloodstream as nourishment, it invalidates the fast.

Unintentional Acts That Do Not Break the Fast

• Unintentional Eating or Drinking
  The Prophet ﷺ said:

  “إِذَا نَسِيَ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ”

  “If someone forgets and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast.”
  (Sahih Bukhari: 1933, Sahih Muslim: 1155)

• Swallowing Saliva
  Swallowing one’s own saliva does not break the fast, as it is unavoidable.
• Using Miswak or Toothbrush Without Toothpaste
  The Prophet ﷺ encouraged using the siwak (tooth-stick):

  “لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ”

  “If it were not difficult for my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use the siwak for every prayer.”
  (Sahih Bukhari: 887, Sahih Muslim: 252)

• Unavoidable Circumstances (e.g., Vomiting, Nosebleeds)
  Involuntary acts like vomiting without intent or bleeding do not invalidate the fast.

Acts Requiring Caution

• Medical Interventions
  Some medical procedures, like blood tests or non-nutritive injections, do not break the fast. However, consult a knowledgeable scholar regarding specific situations.
• Rinsing the Mouth or Nose
  Rinsing is permissible but requires caution to avoid swallowing water. The Prophet ﷺ advised:

  “وَبَالِغْ فِي الاِسْتِنْشَاقِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ صَائِمًا”

  “Exaggerate in rinsing your nose unless you are fasting.”
  (Sunan Abu Dawood: 142)

Conclusion

Understanding what breaks a fast is crucial for Muslims to fulfill their obligations properly during Ramadan. The Qur’an and Sunnah provide clear guidance, complemented by scholarly interpretations. While certain acts unequivocally invalidate the fast, others require a nuanced approach and consultation with knowledgeable scholars.

Fasting is a sacred act of devotion, aiming to instill piety and self-restraint. As Allah says:

“إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ”

“Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)

May Allah grant us the ability to fast sincerely and accept our worship. Ameen.