Islamic education
Fasting (Sawm)
Ramadan, voluntary fasts, and what invalidates the fast.
Fasting Ramadan is a pillar. The fast is from true dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) with intention. The madhhabs agree on major invalidators while differing on some details (e.g. cupping, vomiting).
What breaks the fast
- Eating/drinking deliberately
- Sexual intercourse
- Menstruation/post-natal bleeding
- Deliberate vomiting (in most views)
What does not break it
- Unintentional eating/forgetting — continue fasting (hadith)
- Rinsing mouth/nose without swallowing (with care)
- Medical injections — scholars differ; ask locally
Make-up & expiation
Missed days must be made up. Breaking a fast in Ramadan without excuse may require kaffārah (freeing a slave, fasting 60 days, or feeding poor) in addition to qadā — details by madhhab.