What this chapter is about

Nabi ﷺ showed us how to fast well: how to start and end the day, how to spend the last nights of Ramadan, and which other days to fast through the year. These are sunnah: leaving them does not break your fast, and doing them adds blessing and reward.

The basics are in Ramadan basics, What breaks the fast and When you cannot fast.

Suhur: the meal before dawn

Suhur is the meal you eat at night, before dawn, when you plan to fast.

• Nabi ﷺ said: eat suhur, for there is blessing in suhur¹.
• He said the difference between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is eating suhur².
• Even a little counts: how good are dates as the believer's suhur³.
• Suhur is a sunnah, not a duty. If you sleep through it, your fast is still valid.

Eat it late, and stop at Fajr

• Zaid ibn Thabit ate suhur with Nabi ﷺ, then they stood for Fajr. Between the two was the time it takes to recite fifty ayat⁴, only a few minutes. So eat close to the end of the night, not at midnight.
• Allah says: eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes clear from the black thread⁵. Bilal called an early adhan at night, and Nabi ﷺ said: keep eating and drinking until Ibn Umm Maktum calls the adhan, at dawn⁶.
• So the fast starts at true dawn, the time of Fajr. Many timetables show an imsak time about ten minutes earlier, as a safety margin. See Prayer times.

Iftar: breaking the fast

Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.

Hurry to break it

• Once the sun has set, the fasting person breaks the fast⁷. Do not wait for the sky to go dark.
• Nabi ﷺ said: people will stay upon good as long as they hurry to break the fast⁸.
• Anas said: Nabi ﷺ broke his fast before praying Maghrib, with some fresh dates. If there were none, with dry dates. If there were none, he took a few sips of water⁹.
• So start light, pray Maghrib, then have the main meal.

The dua when breaking the fast

Ibn Umar said that when Nabi ﷺ broke his fast, he said¹⁰:

• It speaks of the thirst being gone, so say it after the first sip. Say Bismillah before you eat.
• Another well-known dua, Allahumma laka sumtu (O Allah, for You I fasted), comes in a weaker report. It is fine as a dua, but the one above has a sound chain.
• The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast, and one when he meets his Lord¹¹. Scholars recommend making dua at iftar.

Feeding a fasting person

• Nabi ﷺ said: whoever gives a fasting person something to break the fast with gets the same reward, with nothing taken from the fasting person's reward¹². A few dates or a plate for a neighbor count.

Tarawih: the night prayer of Ramadan

• Tarawih is the night prayer in Ramadan, prayed after Isha, usually with the imam in the masjid.
• Nabi ﷺ said: whoever prays at night in Ramadan with faith, hoping for reward, all their past sins are forgiven¹³.
• It is a sunnah, not a duty, in the masjid or at home.

How many rakat, how to pray it, and the story of how Tarawih began are all in Witr and sunnah prayers.

The last ten nights and Laylat al-Qadr

The best night of the year

Surah al-Qadr tells us that Allah sent down the Quran on Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree. The angels and Jibril come down in it, and it is peace until dawn¹⁴. Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months¹⁵: more than 83 years.

Nabi ﷺ said: whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr with faith, hoping for reward, all their past sins are forgiven¹⁶.

When is it?

• Nabi ﷺ said: look for Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan¹⁷. Islamic nights come before their day, so these are the nights before the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th days.
• Ubayy ibn Ka'b was sure it was the 27th night. He said one sign is that the sun rises the next morning bright, without strong rays¹⁸.
• Many scholars say it can move from year to year, and communities may start Ramadan on different days. So give all ten nights your best, and you will not miss it.

Nabi ﷺ once came out to tell the people the exact night, but it was taken from him because of a quarrel¹⁹.

What Nabi ﷺ did in the last ten

• Aisha said: when the last ten came, he tightened his waist wrap (meaning he worked very hard), stayed up the night in worship, and woke his family²².
• He worked harder in the last ten nights than at any other time²³.
• So pray at night, read Quran, make dhikr and long duas, and give charity. A woman on her period cannot pray, but she can make dua and dhikr all night.

The dua for this night

Aisha asked Nabi ﷺ: if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say? He said, say²⁴:

Pardon means Allah wipes the sin away completely. Say it often, every night of the last ten.

Itikaf: staying in the masjid

Itikaf means staying in the masjid for a time, with the intention of worship: prayer, Quran, dhikr and dua, away from daily life.

• Nabi ﷺ did itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan every year until he died, and his wives did it after him²⁵. In his last year, he did twenty days²⁶.
• It is a sunnah, required only if you vowed it²⁷. Hanafis say the itikaf of the last ten is a sunnah on the community: if some people in an area do it, the rest are free of blame.

The basic rules

• Intention in the heart, and staying in a masjid. For the last ten, most scholars say enter before sunset on the 20th day and leave when Eid is announced.
• Which masjid? Hanafis and Hanbalis: a masjid where the daily prayers are held in congregation. Malikis and Shafi'is: any masjid. If a Friday falls in it, choose one that holds Jumuah.
• Fasting and length: Malikis say itikaf needs a fast and lasts at least a day and a night. Shafi'is and Hanbalis say no fast is needed and even a short stay counts, since Umar vowed itikaf for one night²⁸. Hanafis need a fast for a vowed itikaf. In Ramadan you are fasting anyway.
• Going out: Nabi ﷺ did not go into the house except for a need²⁹. Aisha said the sunnah is not to visit the sick or attend a funeral, and to go out only for what you must³⁰: the toilet, wudu, a required ghusl, food if no one can bring it.
• Breaks itikaf: intimacy³¹, and leaving without a need.
• Fine: eating and sleeping in the masjid, and family visits. Safiyyah visited Nabi ﷺ in itikaf, and he walked her to the door³². Keep your phone for real needs.

Women and itikaf

• The wives of Nabi ﷺ did itikaf in the masjid³³. Once several of them set up tents at the same time. He did not like how it happened, and moved his own itikaf to Shawwal that year³⁴.
• Malikis, Shafi'is and Hanbalis: a woman's itikaf is in a masjid. Hanafis: in the prayer corner of her home, which is better for her.
• A married woman needs her husband's agreement, and the place must be safe and private. If her period starts, she leaves the masjid. Ask your masjid if it has a women's area.

Eid al-Fitr

• Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a day of thanks and joy. Fasting on Eid is not allowed³⁵.
• Nabi ﷺ did not go out to the Eid prayer until he had eaten some dates, an odd number³⁶.
• Pay zakat al-fitr before the Eid prayer. See Who receives zakat, and zakat al-fitr.

How to pray Eid, the takbirs and the other sunnahs of the day are in Special prayers.

Voluntary fasts through the year

After Ramadan, you can keep the habit going. None of these fasts are required. Pick what you can keep up.

• Six days of Shawwal: Nabi ﷺ said: whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime⁴³. Each good deed is worth ten, so 36 days are like 360. Right after Eid or spread out, all fine.
• Arafah is for people not on Hajj. At Arafah, Nabi ﷺ drank a bowl of milk in front of the people⁴⁴, so most scholars say pilgrims should not fast it.
• Ashura: Nabi ﷺ planned to fast the 9th as well, but passed away before the next year came⁴⁵. So scholars recommend the 9th and 10th. Some also mention the 10th and 11th. Only the 10th is still rewarded, though Hanafis say it is better not to fast it alone.
• Mondays and Thursdays: deeds are shown to Allah on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds are shown while I am fasting⁴⁶. Monday is also the day he was born⁴⁷.
• Three days a month: Nabi ﷺ advised Abu Huraira to fast three days every month⁴⁸. He told Abu Dharr: fast the 13th, 14th and 15th⁴⁹. These are the white days, when the moon is full.
• Dawud's fast: one day on, one day off. Nabi ﷺ said: there is no better fast than that⁵⁰. Only for those who can keep it up without harm to health, work or family.
• Also good: Muharram, Allah's month, the best fast after Ramadan⁵¹, and Sha'ban, when Nabi ﷺ fasted most outside Ramadan⁵².

The fast of Ashura goes back to Musa (Moses)⁵³.

Intention, and breaking a voluntary fast

• Deciding in the morning: for a voluntary fast, you can decide during the day if you have not eaten since Fajr. Nabi ﷺ once asked Aisha for food. There was none, so he said: then I am fasting⁵⁸. Hanafis allow this until before midday, Shafi'is until the sun passes its highest point, and Hanbalis even later. Malikis say every fast needs an intention from the night before.
• Breaking it: allowed, for a guest, an invitation or tiredness. Nabi ﷺ said: the one fasting a voluntary fast is in charge of himself⁵⁹. Another day he ate some food Aisha had saved for him, though he had started the day fasting⁶⁰. When Abu ad-Darda ate with his guest Salman during a voluntary fast, Nabi ﷺ said Salman was right⁶¹.
• Making it up: Shafi'is and Hanbalis say it is good but not required. Hanafis say make up one day. Malikis say do not break it without a real reason, and if you do, make it up.
• This is only for voluntary fasts. A Ramadan, make-up or vowed fast must not be broken without a real excuse.

A wife's voluntary fast

• Nabi ﷺ said: a woman should not fast when her husband is at home, except with his permission⁶². Scholars say this means voluntary fasts, because of his right to her company. If he is away, she does not need to ask.
• Ramadan needs no one's permission. For make-up days, many scholars say agree a time with him while there is plenty of time. When the next Ramadan is close, she fasts them anyway.
• A simple "I'm fasting Monday, is that okay?" is enough. A kind husband supports his wife's worship.

Days you may not or should not fast

• Friday: Nabi ﷺ found his wife Juwairiyah fasting on a Friday. She had not fasted the day before and did not plan to fast the next. He said: then break your fast⁶⁹. But if Friday falls on a fast you keep anyway, like Arafah or your usual days, that is fine⁷⁰.
• The day of doubt: if the moon is hidden by cloud, complete thirty days of Sha'ban⁷¹. Ammar ibn Yasir said: whoever fasts the day of doubt has disobeyed Nabi ﷺ⁷². A fast you keep by habit, like a Monday, is fine⁷³. On moon sighting, follow your local masjid or community: see Ramadan basics.
• Every day: Nabi ﷺ said: whoever fasts every day for life has not fasted⁷⁴. To three men who wanted to overdo worship, he said: I fast and I break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry. Whoever turns away from my sunnah is not from me⁷⁵. He also forbade wisal: fasting two days in a row with no food at night⁷⁶.

Common questions

I have Ramadan days to make up. Can I fast the six days of Shawwal first, or do both in one fast?

Scholars differ.

• Make up first: many scholars, and the Hanbalis, say this. The hadith says "whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six"⁷⁸, and Ramadan is not complete until you make it up. This is the safest way.
• Shawwal first: other scholars allow it, because the time to make up is long. Aisha made up her days in Sha'ban⁷⁹.
• One fast for both: some later Shafi'i scholars say a make-up fast in Shawwal also earns the Shawwal reward. Most scholars say it counts only as the make-up.

If you missed many days, for example after giving birth, you may follow any of these views. Ask a scholar you trust if unsure.

I broke a voluntary fast at a family lunch. Is that a sin?

No. A voluntary fast is your choice, and Nabi ﷺ broke one himself⁸⁰. Eating with family is a good reason. Hanafis say make up one day. Malikis say make it up if there was no real reason. Shafi'is and Hanbalis say making it up is good but not required.

The day of Arafah falls on a Friday. Can I fast it?

Yes. The dislike is for picking Friday out for its own sake. You are fasting for Arafah, not for Friday⁸¹. Fasting Thursday too, if you can, makes it even clearer.

What if Arafah or Ashura falls on a Saturday?

A hadith says do not fast on Saturday except a required fast⁸². Most scholars understand it as: do not single out Saturday for its own sake. So most say fast Arafah or Ashura even on a Saturday. A few scholars say avoid it. You may follow either view.

I am still eating when the Fajr adhan starts. What do I do?

Once you know Fajr has come, stop. Aim to finish a few minutes before the Fajr time on your timetable. See What breaks the fast.

I work night shifts in the last ten nights. Can I still get Laylat al-Qadr?

Yes. The reward is for worship on that night, wherever you are. Pray a few rakat on your break, make dhikr, and say the dua of Aisha⁸³ often.