All praises are due to Allah, we ask Him for His Peace and blessings upon our prophet Muhammad. My brothers and sisters in Islam, as we know that fasting in Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink. It is an act of worship with a lot of rewards in this world and the hereafter for those who perfect it. However, to reap these great rewards, we must be mindful of the things that can break a fast in Ramadan.
Fasting in Ramadan is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah, and it’s essential to ensure that our fasts are valid and accepted. Fasting is a means of attaining Taqwa (God-consciousness), and a way to purify the soul as Allah says in the Qur’an:
“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)
The Prophet ﷺ also emphasized the immense reward of fasting, saying:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 38, Sahih Muslim 760)
But imagine striving to perfect your fast till the time, only to find out halfway that it has been invalidated by some of the things that invalidate fasting. This is why every Muslim must understand the things that can break a fast and the things that invalidate fasting, ensuring that their fasting remains valid and accepted by Allah.
Why Does Knowing The Things That Can Break A Fast Matters?
Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligation upon every sane, healthy, and adult Muslim. This means that we have no other choice than to observe it (it is a must). However, many are unaware of the things that invalidate fasting. Some mistakenly believe that only eating and drinking invalidate fasting, while others unknowingly engage in activities that nullify it.
New Muslims, especially reverts that are new to fasting, often wonder and ask questions about the things that can break a fast? or What are the things that can invalidate fasting? These are critical questions because ignorance can lead to grave mistakes.
In this article, we’ll explore 7 things that can invalidate fasting in order to avoid doing them. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what to stay clear from during Ramadan to ensure your fast remains valid and accepted by Allah.
1. Sexual Intercourse During the Day
One of the most serious violations among the things that can break a fast is engaging in sexual intercourse during the hours of fasting Ramadan. Engaging in marital relations while fasting is strictly prohibited and is considered one of the gravest violations of the fast. This action does not only break the fast but also necessitates both qadha’ (making up the fast) and kaffarah (expiation). Allah says in the Quran:
“It has been made permissible for you, during the nights of fasting, to have sexual relations with your wives… until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night (that is start fasting after Fajr when the dawn is cleartill sunset). And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. ” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:187).
This verse clearly indicates that intimacy is only permissible during the nights of Ramadan, not during the day. Engaging in sexual relations while fasting is considered a major violation because it directly contradicts the purpose of fasting, which is to exercise self-restraint and draw closer to Allah. More explanation is from our Prophet ﷺ where he pointed out the expiation for us too.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “I am ruined! I had sexual relations with my wife while fasting in Ramadan.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed him to free a slave, and when the man said he couldn’t, he told him to fast for two consecutive months. When the man said he was unable to do that, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to feed sixty poor people. (Sahih al-Bukhari).
- Qadha’ (Making Up the Fast): The person must make up the missed fast on another day after Ramadan.
- Kaffarah (Expiation): Kaffarah is a serious expiation required for breaking the fast through sexual intercourse. It involves either:
- Fasting 60 consecutive days, or
- Feeding 60 poor people if unable to fast.
- Feeding the poor becomes the alternative if someone is unable to fast for 60 days due to a valid reason (such as illness).
Key Reminder: To protect yourself from the above mistake, it is crucial to avoid even getting too close to your spouse during fasting hours. Acts of intimacy like kissing and hugging, that lead to temptation should be completely avoided to ensure the sanctity of your fast remains intact.
2. Eating and Drinking (Intentional Consumption)
One of the most obvious things that can break your fast is intentionally eating or drinking during the hours of Ramadan. This is a clear violation of the fast, as one of the conditions of valid fasting is to abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. Allah says in the Quran:
“And eat and drink (eat Sahur) until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:187).
This verse establishes the timeframe for fasting, which begins at dawn (Fajr) and ends at sunset (Maghrib). Intentionally consuming food or drink during this period invalidates fasting and requires making up the missed day after Ramadan. However, there is an exception to this which is forgetfulness.
What About Forgetfulness?
Islam is a religion of mercy, and our Prophet ﷺ clarified that if a person eats or drinks out of forgetfulness, their fast remains valid. He said:
“If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully, then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk has been given to him by Allah.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6669, Sahih Muslim 1155)
3. Masturbation and Intentional Ejaculation
Fasting in Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink; it’s also about controlling one’s desires and maintaining purity in both actions and intentions. One of the things that can break a fast is intentional ejaculation through masturbation or any other act that leads to ejaculation. This is a serious matter that requires understanding and vigilance to avoid.
Any act that leads to ejaculation such as masturbation, deliberate touching, watching inappropriate content, or indulging in lustful thoughts are things that invalidate fasting because it involves indulging in physical desires, which contradicts the essence of fasting. Fasting is meant to cultivate self-discipline, patience, and spiritual growth, and intentionally engaging in such acts undermines these goals. The evidence of this is in hadith Qudsi…
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 7492
Intentionally having intercourse to satisfy one’s desire during Ramadan is prohibited, what about during it in Haram way i.e. masturbation through any means? The doer falls into two great sins. Satisfying his or her sexual desire during fasting moment and also masturbation. This is among the things that invalidate fasting and the person needs to repent sincerely and make up for it in another time after Ramadan without delay.
Does a wet dream break fasting?
No, involuntary occurrences like wet dreams do not break the fast likewise if you are about to start masturbation and you stop immediately without discharge, then your fast is still valid and you need to repent from this evil action.
Key Reminder
To protect your fast, avoid anything that stimulates desire whether through touching the other gender even if it’s your mahram, watching films related to porn, or having thoughts that can stimulate desire. Engaging in acts that lead to ejaculation is a serious matter that damages the spiritual purpose of fasting, which is to attain self-discipline and closeness to Allah.
4. Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding
In Islam, women are exempt from fasting during their menstrual cycle (hayd) and postpartum bleeding (nifas). These natural conditions exempt women from fasting, but they must make up the missed fasts later. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Is it not the case that when she has her menses, she does not pray or fast?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1951)
A woman in this state is not allowed to fast, and if she does, the fast is invalid and must be made up later. Allah has designed the human body with natural processes, and menstruation and postpartum bleeding are part of a woman’s life. These conditions are not within a woman’s control, and fasting during them could potentially harm her health. Therefore, Islam grants women an exemption during these times.
Making Up Missed Fasts
After Ramadan, women must make up (qadha’) the fasts they missed due to menstruation or postpartum bleeding. Aisha رضي الله عنها said:
“We were commanded to make up the fasts but not the prayers.” (Sahih Muslim 335)
Unlike missed prayers during their menstrual cycle (hayd) and postpartum bleeding (nifas) which are forgiven, missed fasts must be completed after Ramadan at a convenient time before the next Ramadan.
Does all blood discharge break the Fast?
Not all vaginal discharges invalidate fasting. Scholars differentiate between:
- Menstrual Blood: If a woman experiences her usual menstrual bleeding during fasting hours, her fast is broken.
- Spotting (Istihadah): If the discharge is not menstrual blood (e.g., light brown or yellowish spotting outside the usual cycle), the fast is valid because Istihadah blood isn’t among the things that can break a Fast. The Prophet’s wife, Umm ‘Atiyyah رضي الله عنها, said:
“We did not count brownish and yellowish discharge after the period as anything significant.” (Sunan Abu Dawood 307)
However, if unsure whether the discharge is menstrual blood, women should check their normal cycle patterns or consult a knowledgeable scholar.
5. Deliberate Vomiting
Among the things that can break a fast is intentional vomiting. If a person deliberately induces vomiting by inserting a finger in the throat, pressing the stomach, or any other means, the fast is broken. The Prophet ﷺ said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever is overcome by vomiting, then he is not required to make up (the fast), and whoever vomits on purpose, then he must make it up.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 720
This hadith clearly states that intentional vomiting invalidates the fast, requiring the person to make up (qadha’) the missed fast after Ramadan.
What About Accidental Vomiting?
If vomiting happens naturally due to sickness, motion sickness, or an upset stomach, the fast remains valid. The key distinction is whether it was intentional or unintentional. If it happens without control, there is no penalty, and the person should continue fasting as normal. This ruling ensures fairness in Islam and Allah does not burden a person beyond their capability either in worship or any other things we do.
6. Cupping, Hijama, and Blood Donation
Cupping (hijama) and blood donation are among the things that can break the fast which most of the people don’t know. Both involve the removal of blood from the body, which has led to discussions among scholars about whether it invalidates the fast. Our Prophet ﷺ explicitly mentioned that cupping (hijama) invalidates the fast. He said:
“The cupper and the one for whom cupping is done both break their fast.” (Sunan Abu Dawood 2367, graded Sahih by Albaani)
This indicates that removing a significant amount of blood through hijama can break the fast. The reason is that it may cause weakness, affecting one’s ability to continue fasting properly. Blood donation has become a common practice now, especially during emergencies or for medical purposes. What did the Scholars say about this?
Many contemporary scholars (may Allah have mercy on them), have stated that blood donation and cupping are things that invalidate fasting because they weaken the body and contradict the purpose of fasting. Therefore, if a person donates blood during fasting hours, their fast is considered invalid, and they must make up for the missed fast after Ramadan.
However, small blood tests, injections, or minor bleeding (e.g., nosebleeds, minor cuts) do not break the fast.
Best Practice for Blood Donation
- Donate After Iftar: Schedule your blood donation for after sunset (Iftar) when you are no longer fasting. This allows you to fulfill both your religious obligation and your desire to help others.
- Prioritize Health: If donating blood is urgent and cannot be delayed, prioritize your health and the needs of others. You can make up the missed fast later, as Allah says:
“And whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185).
7. IV Drips and Nutritional Injections
Not all injections invalidate fasting. The key distinction is whether the injection provides nourishment similar to food and drink. One of the things that can break a fast in this section is one of the two as stated clearly below:
- Nutritional injections (e.g., glucose, IV drips, total parenteral nutrition): Break the fast because they substitute for food and drink by providing energy to the body.
- Non-nutritional injections (e.g., vaccines, insulin, antibiotics, painkillers): Do not break the fast as they do not provide nourishment.
This distinction is based on the principle that fasting is about abstaining from substances that provide energy or sustenance to the body. Nutritional injections, such as glucose drips, directly replace the need for food and drink, which contradicts the purpose of fasting.
Does Vaccines or Insulin break the fast?
Modern medical treatments like vaccines, insulin, and antibiotics are not considered food replacements, so they do not invalidate fasting. These treatments enter the body through the muscles or veins and do not nourish like food or drink. Vaccines are designed to boost immunity, and insulin is a medication used to regulate blood sugar levels.
Neither vaccines nor insulin serves as a substitute for food or drink. and thus not among the things that can break a Fast. But if a person is severely ill and needs IV fluids, they are excused from fasting and must make up the fast later as Allah says:
“And whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185).
As we have discussed some of the things that can break a fast in this article, we implore every one of us to keep them in mind so as to avoid falling into any of them,m and ensure that we complete our fasts properly before Allah. We can read more on how Ramadan is a journey of Faith and spiritual transformation here.
We ask Allah to accept our fasting and prayers, forgive our sins, grant us Jannah, and help us to obey Him in this blessed month and beyond. Aameen
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