What breaks the fast in Ramadan?

The short answer

Deliberately eating, drinking or having sexual intercourse during daylight breaks the fast, as does deliberate vomiting and the start of menstruation. Eating or drinking by genuine mistake does not break it. Intercourse during a Ramadan fast also requires a heavy expiation (kaffarah).

Explanation

The Quran sets the basic limits: eat and drink "until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset", and relations with one's spouse are permitted during the night 1. So the three main things that break the fast are eating, drinking and sexual intercourse, done deliberately between true dawn and sunset.

Mistakes are forgiven. "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" 2. Your fast is still valid.

Intercourse is the most serious. A man who had relations with his wife while fasting in Ramadan came to the Prophet ﷺ saying he was ruined, and was told the expiation: freeing a slave, or else fasting two consecutive months, or else feeding sixty poor people 3.

Vomiting depends on intention: a person overcome by vomiting owes nothing, but one who vomits on purpose must make up the day 4. A woman whose period begins stops fasting and makes up those days later 5.

Some things do not break the fast. The Prophet ﷺ was cupped (bloodletting) while fasting 6, and he would kiss and embrace his wives while fasting, though he had the most control over his desires 7.

Remember too that a fast can be empty even if it is technically valid: "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink" 8. Guard your tongue as carefully as your stomach.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:187

    Eat, drink and have relations at night; then complete the fast from dawn until sunset.

    أُحِلَّ لَكُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمۡۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسࣱ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسࣱ لَّهُنَّۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمۡۖ فَٱلۡـَٰٔنَ بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۚ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِۚ وَلَا تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَٰكِفُونَ فِي ٱلۡمَسَٰجِدِۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَاۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ ۝١٨٧

    It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the 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. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1933
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully should complete his fast.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) 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

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا نَسِيَ فَأَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1936
    Sahih Bukhari

    Intercourse during a Ramadan fast requires expiation - freeing a slave, fasting two months, or feeding sixty poor.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) a man came and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have been ruined." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked what was the matter with him. He replied "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you afford to manumit a slave?" He replied in the negative. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you fast for two successive months?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet (ﷺ) kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) . He asked, "Where is the questioner?" He replied, "I (am here)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity." The man said, "Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its (i.e. Medina's) two mountains who are poorer than I." The Prophet (ﷺ) smiled till his premolar teeth became visible and then said, 'Feed your family with it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ جُلُوسٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ، فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلَكْتُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا لَكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ هَلْ تَجِدُ رَقَبَةً تُعْتِقُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَهَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَصُومَ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ فَهَلْ تَجِدُ إِطْعَامَ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ فَمَكَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعَرَقٍ فِيهَا تَمْرٌ ـ وَالْعَرَقُ الْمِكْتَلُ ـ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَنَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ خُذْهَا فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَعَلَى أَفْقَرَ مِنِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا بَيْنَ لاَبَتَيْهَا ـ يُرِيدُ الْحَرَّتَيْنِ ـ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ أَفْقَرُ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي، فَضَحِكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى بَدَتْ أَنْيَابُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَطْعِمْهُ أَهْلَكَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 2380
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani
    Graders differ
    • Al-Albani: Sahih
    • Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Sahih
    • Zubair Ali Zai: Daif

    Vomiting unintentionally does not affect the fast; vomiting deliberately requires making it up.

    Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: if one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ ذَرَعَهُ قَىْءٌ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ وَإِنِ اسْتَقَاءَ فَلْيَقْضِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ أَيْضًا حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ مِثْلَهُ ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 335c
    Sahih Muslim

    Women were ordered to make up fasts missed during menstruation.

    Mu'adha said:I asked 'A'isha: What is the reason that a menstruating woman completes the fasts (that she abandons during her monthly course). but she does not complete the prayers? She (Hadrat 'A'isha) said: Are you a Haruriya? I said: I am not a Haruriya, but I simply want to inquire. She said: We passed through this (period of menstruation), and we were ordered to complete the fasts, but were not ordered to complete the prayers

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذَةَ، قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَالُ الْحَائِضِ تَقْضِي الصَّوْمَ وَلاَ تَقْضِي الصَّلاَةَ فَقَالَتْ أَحَرُورِيَّةٌ أَنْتِ قُلْتُ لَسْتُ بِحَرُورِيَّةٍ وَلَكِنِّي أَسْأَلُ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ كَانَ يُصِيبُنَا ذَلِكَ فَنُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّوْمِ وَلاَ نُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّلاَةِ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1939
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ was cupped while fasting.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) was cupped while he was fasting

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ احْتَجَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1927
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ kissed and embraced his wives while fasting, having full control of himself.

    Narrated `Aisha:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you. Said Jabir, "The person who gets discharge after casting a look (on his wife) should complete his fast

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُ وَيُبَاشِرُ، وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ، وَكَانَ أَمْلَكَكُمْ لإِرْبِهِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ‏{‏مَآرِبُ‏}‏ حَاجَةٌ‏.‏ قَالَ طَاوُسٌ ‏{‏أُولِي الإِرْبَةِ‏}‏ الأَحْمَقُ لاَ حَاجَةَ لَهُ فِي النِّسَاءِ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1903
    Sahih Bukhari

    Allah has no need of the fast of one who does not give up false speech and evil actions.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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