🏮 Ramadan and the Islamic year · Step 2 of 10
What breaks a fast, and who may not fast
Eating or drinking on purpose breaks the fast; forgetting does not. Allah made it easy for the sick and the traveller.
Things that break the fast
- Eating or drinking on purpose.
- Anything that reaches the stomach on purpose through the mouth or nose.
- Making yourself vomit on purpose.
- For women: the start of the monthly period or bleeding after childbirth.
“Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink.”
If you forget and eat, stop as soon as you remember. Your fast is still fine.
Who does not have to fast
- Children who have not reached puberty (they may practise).
- The sick, if fasting would harm them. They make up the days later.
- Travellers on a long journey. They make up the days later.
- Women during their period or after childbirth. They make up the days later.
- The very old or the always-ill who cannot fast: they feed a poor person for each day (fidyah).
Allah wants ease for you
In this ayah Allah says that whoever is ill or travelling may make up the days later, and that Allah wants ease for us, not hardship.
✅ Check yourself
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Aisha forgot and drank water while fasting. What should she do?
Show the answer
Stop when she remembers and carry on fasting. Her fast is still valid.
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Name two people who may miss a fast and make it up later.
Show the answer
A sick person and a traveller (also a woman during her period).