It is essential to observe the fast after knowing its rules. If one fasts according to their own whims and desires, it will yield no benefit other than remaining hungry throughout the day.
Practices That Do Not Break the Fast
- Miswak: Using a miswak (twig used for cleaning teeth) does not break the fast.
- Eye Care & Grooming: Applying kohl (surma) to the eyes, applying oil, bathing with soap, and wearing perfume (attar) do not break the fast.
- Grooming: Cutting hair or clipping nails does not break the fast.
- Breast feeding: Mothers breastfeeding their children does not break the fast.
- Swallowing Saliva: Swallowing one’s own saliva does not break the fast.
- Intent to Break: Merely stating the intention to break the fast while still fasting does not break it (until one actually eats or drinks).
- Wet Dreams: If someone has a wet dream (involuntary ejaculation) while sleeping, their fast is not broken. They can simply take a ritual bath (ghusl).
- Medical Injections: If a person is unwell, receiving an injection does not break the fast.
Practices That Break the Fast
- Accidental Water Ingestion: If water goes down the throat while rinsing the mouth when one is fully aware that they are fasting, the fast is broken.
- Smoking & Tobacco: Using beedi, cigarettes, or snuff (podi) will break the fast.
- Intentional Eating, Drinking, or Intimacy: Eating, drinking, or engaging in sexual intercourse during the day while being fully aware of the fast will break it.
Key Guidelines and Rules
- Menstruation: Women must not fast during their menstrual period. However, it is mandatory to make up (Qaza) for the missed fasts later.
- Late Waking for Sehri: If the Fajr Adhan (call to prayer) has already been proclaimed when you wake up for Sehri, you should not eat or drink anything. You can simply continue the fast with the proper intention (niyyah).
- Ritual Impurity (Janabah) & Sehri: If a ritual bath (ghusl) is mandatory upon someone and time for Sehri is short, they can perform ablution (wudu), eat their Sehri, and take a bath afterward. If there is enough time, they should bathe before eating Sehri.
- Forgetting the Niyyah: The entire month of Ramadan is a period of fasting. Therefore, if someone eats Sehri and goes to sleep but realizes upon waking up in the morning that they forgot to make a specific intention (niyyah), they do not need to worry. They can simply continue their fast.
- Breaking the Fast Intentionally: Deliberately breaking a fast without a valid valid reason is a major sin.
Spiritual Discipline and Rewards
- Guard the Tongue: Speaking lies, backbiting, slandering, and using foul language are major sins for a fasting person. While they may not technically break the fast, they destroy the spiritual rewards of the fast.
- Punctuality in Iftar: Breaking the fast at the prescribed time without unnecessary delay is a requirement of the fast.
- Training Children: Children should be gradually encouraged and habituated to observe the fast.
- Fasting vs. Prayer (Salah): Some people give up fasting claiming, “I am able to fast, but I am unable to pray.” Fasting is an independent obligation, and prayer is another independent obligation. Giving up one duty by citing the other as an excuse is a grave sin. One must absolutely offer prayers.
