What breaks the fast and what does not?
Breaking the fast occurs if a person intentionally eats, drinks, or engages in sexual relations before the time of breaking the fast. This is considered a serious sin, for which it is necessary to make up the missed day (kaza) and perform expiation (kaffara).
Expiation (kaffara) for intentional breaking of the fast involves freeing one slave, continuous fasting for 60 days, or feeding 60 poor people. In the case of accidental breaking of the fast, it is only necessary to make it up "day for day" (kaza).
Missed days of Ramadan can be made up either consecutively or separately. Paying fidya (money) instead of the missed fast (kaza) is not accepted, except in cases related to incurable illness or extreme old age. If the next Ramadan has arrived and the debts from the previous one have not yet been fulfilled, one should first observe the current fast and then make up the missed days.
- If a fly, smoke, or dust accidentally enters the throat, it does not break the fast. However, if this happens intentionally, the fast is broken.
- Smoking tobacco or hookah, as well as intentionally inhaling fragrant substances, breaks the fast.
- If pieces of food or meat remain in the teeth: if they are swallowed and their volume is equal to a pea or more, the fast is broken. If less, it is not. However, if food remnants are first taken out and then swallowed, the fast is broken regardless of their size.
- Swallowing saliva or phlegm does not break the fast.
- If during ablution water accidentally enters the throat through the nose or mouth, and the person remembers that they are fasting, the fast is broken. In this case, it is necessary to make up one day (kaza), and no kaffara is required.
- If a person vomits involuntarily, it is not considered breaking the fast. However, if the vomiting was induced intentionally and the mouth was full, the fast is broken. With a small volume of vomit, it is not.
- Swallowing inedible objects (coins, stones, etc.) breaks the fast. In this case, only a make-up (kaza) is required, and no kaffara is paid.
- Intentionally consuming food, drink, or medicine leads to breaking the fast: both kaza and kaffara are required.
- Sexual relations during fasting also break it, for which both kaza and kaffara are required. Simple hugs and kisses with a spouse do not break the fast, but if young people cannot control themselves and there is a risk of sexual intercourse, such actions are considered makruh (undesirable).
- Using snuff, putting medicine in the ears, or using an enema breaks the fast. In these cases, it is necessary to make up day for day (kaza), and no kaffara is required.
- If blood comes from the gums and a person swallows it, this breaks the fast. If there is a little blood and its taste is not felt, the fast is not broken.
What actions are considered makruh (undesirable)?
- Tasting something and spitting it out does not break the fast, but doing so without necessity is undesirable (makruh).
- Chewing food for a child in one's mouth is makruh. If there is an urgent need, it is not makruh.
- Using miswak does not break the fast, but using toothpaste is makruh.
- If someone's fast is broken during the day of Ramadan, they should not demonstratively eat and drink until sunset.
- One should break the fast on time; delaying the time of breaking the fast is makruh.
What to do if one eats out of forgetfulness?
If a person forgets that they are fasting and eats or drinks, and then remembers, the fast is not broken, and they should continue. However, if after this they decide, "my fast is broken" and continue to eat intentionally, the fast is broken. In this case, only a make-up (kaza) is required, and no kaffara is needed.
How to properly perform suhoor and iftar, and what mistakes can break the fast?
- Suhoor is a sunnah and brings blessings. Even if there is no appetite, it is advisable to eat at least a couple of dates and drink a little water.
- It is better to break the fast (iftar) with dates; if they are not available, fruits, sweets, or just water can be used.
- If a person eats thinking that the time for suhoor has not yet ended, but it has already passed, they must continue fasting, but this day will not be counted. It will need to be made up (kaza) later. The same applies if a person breaks the fast mistakenly believing that the sun has already set. No kaffara is required in these cases.
- Abstaining from food and drink without intention is not considered fasting.
How do the sick and travelers observe the fast?
- A person who becomes ill during the fast or has a prior illness that threatens their health may break the fast and make it up (kaza) on other days.
- It is better for a traveler to fast if it does not harm their health, as Ramadan is the most blessed time.
- If a traveler dies on the way or a sick person dies without recovering from their illness, making up missed days for them is not required.
- If the sick person recovers and the traveler returns home, but they die afterward without having made up the fast, then making it up becomes obligatory (through a will/fidya).
How should women observe the fast during pregnancy, menstruation, and postpartum period?
- Pregnant and nursing women may not fast if it threatens their health or the health of the child. However, they must make up these days later. Paying fidya in this case does not replace fasting.
- During menstruation, a woman stops fasting and makes up the missed days (kaza) later.
- A woman is prohibited from fasting during postpartum purification (nifas). These days are also made up later. Sharia has exempted women from making up missed prayers (namaz) during these periods, but not from fasting.
