Fasting

Sawm — Hanafi Fiqh

Hanafi school — for educational purposes

What is Sawm?

Sawm means abstaining from food, drink, and other invalidators from dawn (fajr) to sunset, with the intention of worship. Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam and is obligatory for every adult Muslim who is able. The Quran states: "O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

There are three categories of fasting: Fard (obligatory — Ramadan and vow fasting), Sunnah (recommended — fasting on specific days), and Nafl (voluntary — any chosen fasts for extra reward).

Ramadan — The Obligatory Fast

Conditions That Make Fasting Obligatory

  • • Being Muslim
  • • Being adult (reached puberty)
  • • Being of sound mind
  • • Being physically able (not travellers, menstruating, pregnant, etc.)
  • • Having knowledge that Ramadan has begun

When Does Ramadan Begin?

Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon (hilal) of the 9th month. If the moon is not visible, the month is completed as 30 days of Sha'ban. When in doubt, seek confirmation from a trusted Islamic authority or use a reliable calendar.

The Daily Schedule

Suhoor (Pre-dawn meal)

Eat before the adhan for Fajr. This is sunnah and should not be skipped.

Fast begins at Fajr

From the adhan, all food, drink, and invalidators are prohibited.

Nightly Tarawih prayer

Sunnah of 20 rak'ahs performed after Isha during Ramadan.

Maghrib (Sunset)

Break the fast immediately at the adhan with something sweet, then pray.

What Breaks the Fast?

Things That Invalidate the Fast

  • • Eating or drinking deliberately
  • • Sexual intercourse
  • • Intentional vomiting (nafs)
  • • Menstruation or postpartum bleeding
  • • Eating thinking it is still night (if corrected before midday, no sin but qada required)
  • • Deliberately tasting food without swallowing (may be disliked)
  • • Injections that provide nutrition (not medicinal injections)

Things That Do NOT Break the Fast

  • • Unintentional eating or drinking (forgotten — stop as soon as remembered, the fast remains valid)
  • • Brushing teeth (without swallowing toothpaste)
  • • Blood tests (small amounts for tests)
  • • Medicinal injections (absorbed, not nutritional)
  • • Kissing, hugging, or holding hands (without intercourse)
  • • Wet dreams (bathe and continue the fast — no qada)

Note: Cases involving accidental swallowing of medicine, pre-dawn confusion about Maghrib timing, or uncertainty in fasting rulings should be directed to a qualified scholar or local imam for personalized guidance. SeekDeen provides general educational framing, not case-specific fatwa.

Exemptions from Fasting

Travellers (more than 48 miles / 80km)

May delay Ramadan fasts and make them up later (qada). It is preferred to delay if the journey is difficult. If easy, one may fast while travelling.

The Ill

Those with an illness that would worsen with fasting may delay and make up the days later. Chronic illness follows specific rulings — consult a scholar.

Elderly and Chronically Ill

Those who cannot fast even with make-up (qada) due to permanent illness may feed one poor person for each day missed (fidyah), or fast what they can.

Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

May delay fasting if fearful for themselves or child. Must make up the days later (qada). If fearful for the child, fidyah may apply — consult a scholar.

Women During Menstruation or Postpartum

Must not fast during bleeding. Must make up the missed days later (qada). They do not need to make up the days they did not fast simply because of bleeding — the ruling is based on the inability.

Voluntary Fasts — Sunnah and Nafl

The following fasts are highly recommended (sunnah) or voluntary (nafl):

Monday & Thursday — Weekly fasts of the People of the Book (Sunnah). The Prophet ﷺ frequently fasted these days.
Ayam al-Bid (13th, 14th, 15th of each month) — The "White Days" — the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every Islamic month. Strongly recommended (sunnah).
9th of Muharram (Ashura) — Fasting the 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th) of Muharram. Sunnah, expiates sins of the previous year.
10th of Ashura + one day before or after — Fasting the 10th alone is sunnah. Fasting the 9th as well is even better and matches the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
6 days of Shawwal — After Ramadan, fasting 6 days in Shawwal. Sunnah. Combined with Ramadan, equals the reward of a full year of fasting.
Shawwal and Dhul Hijjah — Fasting in the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah is encouraged, especially the Day of Arafah (9th) for non-pilgrims.

Days to avoid fasting: Only the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah (days of Tashreeq) — fasting is prohibited these days for those not on pilgrimage.

Related Fiqh References

Hanafi

These references show where related Hanafi rulings are indexed in the SeekDeen fiqh database. Detailed lesson explanations are being reviewed separately.

Have a question about fasting?

Ask SeekDeen for Hanafi guidance on your specific situation.

Ask
Next: Zakat All Fiqh Topics