Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem
(in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the key obligations upon every male and female
Muslim who has come of age. Fasting carries great benefits for your health, your
mental state, removing attachments to the duniya, preparing for the hereafter,
being a better person, improving your character, being an expiation for your
sins… the list goes on.
STEP 1: MAKE INTENTION
Before the start of each fast, you must make intention to fast. This doesn’t
need to be said out loud but should be firm in your mind. This can be done at
any time during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajr.
“There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast from the night
before.” [Abu Dawud]
STEP 2: TAKE SUHOOR
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is baraqah.”
[Bukhari]
STEP 3: FAST DURING THE SPECIFIED TIMES
All Muslims who are fasting should stop eating and drinking at the time when
Fajr begins. This includes smoking, drugs, medication. This is also a time to
refrain from committing any sins.
There are exceptions – if fasting would result in a serious deterioration of
health of a person, then that person should not be fasting and should break
their fast. Likewise pregnant women are not permitted to fast. Those on
medication, should seek advice from Islamic Scholars.
Menstruating women should not fast during their menstruation cycle.
STEP 4: BREAK YOUR FAST AT MAGHRIB TIME – TAKE IFTAR
You are not meant to delay breaking your fast. The Sunnah is to hasten in
breaking the fast.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The people remain upon goodness so long as they do not
delay iftaar.” [Bukhari]
“The Prophet (pbuh) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if
fresh dates were not available, he would eat (dried) dates; if dried dates were
not available, he would have a few sips of water.” [At-Tirmidhi]
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Once night comes from there and the day disappears
from there, and the sun has set, the fasting person should break his fast.”
[Bukhari]
The Prophet (pbuh) would not pray Maghrib until he had broken his fast, if only
with a sip of water. [Al-Haakim]
After iftaar, it is Sunnah to recite the words reported in the hadeeth narrated
by Ibn ‘Umar (ra), according to which the Prophet (pbuh), when he broke his
fast, would say, “Dhahaba adh-dhama’, wabtallat il-‘urooq, wa thabat al- ajru in
shaa Allaah (The thirst has gone, the veins are flowing again, and the reward is
confirmed, in shaa Allah).” [Abu Dawud]