What is fasting?
Fasting is the act of abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations for the sake of Allah, from imsāk (the dawn call to prayer) until iftar (the evening call to prayer). Its Arabic name "sawm" comes from a root meaning "to hold back, to restrain." It is one of the five pillars of Islam, commanded in the Qur'an in Sūrah Al-Baqarah, verses 183-187.
On whom is the Ramadan fast obligatory?
The Ramadan fast is fard al-ayn (an individual obligation) on every Muslim who is sane, has reached the age of puberty, is in good health and is a resident (not a traveler). Insane persons, children, travelers, pregnant or nursing women, the sick, and women in menstruation or postnatal bleeding are permitted not to fast in Ramadan. Some of these later make up the missed days (qadā); others pay fidya.
What things break the fast?
The main nullifiers: 1) Eating or drinking intentionally, 2) Sexual intercourse, 3) Inhaling cigarette or steam smoke into the throat, 4) Taking medicine orally, 5) Vomiting a mouthful intentionally, 6) Onset of menstruation or postnatal bleeding. Eating or drinking forgetfully does NOT break the fast according to the Hanafi school; when the person remembers, they stop and continue fasting.
When does the fast begin and end?
The fast begins at imsāk (true dawn / fajr adhān) and ends with the maghrib adhān (sunset). Suhoor is the last meal eaten before imsāk and is sunnah. Iftar is broken immediately when the maghrib adhān is heard (the hadith states "hasten to break the fast" — Bukhārī). Breaking the fast with dates or water is sunnah.
How is qadā (make-up) fasting done?
Fasts that were missed or broken in Ramadan are made up later. Qadā fasts may be observed on any day outside Ramadan EXCEPT the two Eid days and the days of tashrīq (forbidden days). The intention is made: "I intend to make up the first missed day of Ramadan obligatory upon me." One day is made up for each missed day; if a make-up fast is broken during the day, only that day's qadā becomes due.
What is fidya, and when is it paid?
Fidya is paid by someone with a permanent excuse who cannot fast (e.g. permanently ill with no hope of recovery, or very elderly): for each missed day, they feed a poor person one day's meals (or pay its monetary equivalent). According to the Hanafi school, the amount equals sadaqat al-fitr (Diyanet announces it yearly; for 2026 roughly 130-150 TL/day). For temporary illness or travel, fidya is NOT required — qadā is.
What is kaffārah, and how does it differ from qadā?
Kaffārah is the severe penalty paid by a person who breaks a Ramadan fast DELIBERATELY and without excuse. It is fasting for two consecutive months (60 days), or — if unable — feeding 60 poor people. Qadā is simply making up the broken day. Someone who knowingly breaks a Ramadan fast must perform BOTH the qadā for that day AND the kaffārah.
Should one fast while traveling?
A traveler (someone going 90 km or more and staying less than 15 days at the destination) may choose whether to fast or not. If they fast, it is valid and no make-up is needed; if they do not, they make it up later. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sometimes fasted on journeys and sometimes did not; if there is hardship, not fasting is a permitted concession.
Should pregnant and nursing women fast?
A pregnant or nursing woman may choose not to fast if she fears harm to herself or her child. After the excuse ends she must make up the missed days. According to the Hanafi school, qadā alone suffices; in some other opinions, if the fast was left for the child's sake, both qadā AND fidya are due. Acting on medical advice is essential.
On which days is fasting forbidden?
Fasting is forbidden or disliked on these days: 1) The first day of Eid al-Fitr, 2) The four days of Eid al-Adha, 3) Fasting Friday alone (makrūh — combining it with another day is permissible), 4) Fasting Saturday alone (makrūh, if singled out), 5) The day of doubt (the last day of Sha'ban, beginning to fast when the start of Ramadan is uncertain). All other days are suitable for voluntary fasts.
Which voluntary fasts are recommended?
The most virtuous voluntary fasts: 1) Monday and Thursday (the Prophet's weekly sunnah — Tirmidhī), 2) Ayyām al-Bīd (the 13th, 14th and 15th of every lunar month), 3) The six days of Shawwal (after Ramadan — "as if he fasted the whole year" — Muslim), 4) The day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah — "sins of the previous and following year are forgiven" — Muslim), 5) The day of Ashura (10th of Muharram, paired with the 9th or 11th), 6) Fasts in Sha'ban (the Prophet fasted much in Sha'ban).
What are the suhoor and iftar duas?
SUHOOR: Intention before the meal ("I intend to fast tomorrow's Ramadan fast"). After eating: "Bismillāh, wa 'alā barakatillāh" and "Al-hamdu lillāhi'lladhī at'amanā wa saqānā wa ja'alanā mina'l-Muslimīn." IFTAR: When the maghrib adhān is heard: "Allāhumma laka sumtu wa bika āmantu wa 'alayka tawakkaltu wa 'alā rizqika aftartu" (O Allah, I fasted for You, I believed in You, I trusted in You, and I broke my fast with Your sustenance — Abū Dāwūd). Breaking the fast with dates or water is sunnah.
Does brushing teeth or giving blood break the fast?
Brushing the teeth does not break the fast (provided water is not swallowed); using toothpaste is also permissible, though avoiding the taste reaching the throat is preferable. Donating or having blood drawn does not break the fast (Hanafi). Smoking, however, does break the fast because the smoke reaches the throat. Medical injections (except intravenous nutrition) do not break the fast; oral medication does. For doubtful cases, consulting Diyanet's fatwa site is the most reliable course.
When does Ramadan begin?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Because the Hijri calendar is lunar, its Gregorian equivalent shifts about 11 days earlier each year. Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) announces the start of Ramadan in advance based on astronomical calculation. In Türkiye the common practice follows this official date; some sources rely instead on physical sighting of the crescent moon.
Does Hatırla İslam have fasting tracking?
The Hatırla İslam app automatically notifies you of suhoor and iftar times each day throughout Ramadan, based on your city, with a live countdown. The number of days remaining in Ramadan is shown on the home screen. Suhoor and iftar duas are included in Arabic, with transliteration and translation. You can also set calendar reminders for voluntary fasts outside Ramadan (Monday-Thursday, ayyām al-bīd, Arafah, etc.).
