How We Fast ?

Beginning Of Fast

The fast starts at the break of dawn, which is also the time for salatul Fajr.

"And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)."
(al-Baqarah, Verse 187)

Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also explained there are two Fajrs. The false Fajr is the vertical column of whiteness which appears. The true Fajr is the horizontal spreading reddishness. It is this Fajr to which the rules of fasting and prayer refer.

Talq ibn 'Alee said, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"Eat and drink and do not let the tall vertical brightness deceive you, but eat and drink until the reddish one spreads horizontally for you."
(at-Tirmidhee)

Intention

In order for the obligatory fast to be valid, the Muslim must make a clear intention (or Niyyah) to fast before the appearance of dawn.

The messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"He who does not resolve to fast before it is Fajr, then there is no fast for him"
(Abu Dawood)

"He who does not intend during the night to fast, then there is no fast for him."
(an-Nasa'ee)

Disliked Actions

While physically, fasting is the abstinence from food, drink and desires. Spiritually Muslims are encouraged to move away from actions which would reduce the value of their fast or even destroy it.

"Whoever does not avoid false speech and acting on it, Allah the Mighty does not have any need for him to leave his food and drink".
(al-Bukhari)

Abu Huraira said that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"Fast is not (merely) to leave off eating and drinking, but it is also to abstain from vain talk and obscene behaviour. Therefore if anyone insults you or behaves foolishly towards you, then say: ' I am fasting, I am fasting'."
(al-Bukhari)

Muslims are encouraged to display noble manners; to move away from bad language and evil actions. As a warning Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as said:

"It may be that a fasting person attains nothing but hunger and thirst from his fasting."
(Ahmad)

Suhoor

Suhoor is the act of eating a meal before the fast.

Abdullah ibn al-Haarith said, Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"I entered upon the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and he was taking suhoor and he said: 'it is a blessing which Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has given to you so do not leave it'."
(Ahmad)

'Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree, radiyallahu' anhu said Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

The suhoor is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it, even if one of you just takes a gulp of water, since Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) sends mercy and His angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhoor"
(Ahmad)

Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"How excellent are dates as the believers suhoor."
(Abu Dawood)

Suhoor should take place as close to Fajr as possible.

Anas reports from Zayd ibn Thaabit, radiyallahu' anhu said:

"We ate suhoor along with the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) then he stood up for prayer, I said: 'How much time was there between adhaan and suhoor?' He said: 'the interval was sufficient to recite fifty Aayat'."
(al-Bukhari)

Ending The Fast

The fast is ended when the sun has set, even if the light from it is still bright.

Abdullaah ibn Abi Awf said:

We were with the Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) on a journey and He was fasting (because it was in Ramadan). When the sun set he said to some people (and in another narration he said: "O Bilaal"): "Get down and prepare the meal of parched barley for us". He said "O Messenger of Allah, If you can wait until it becomes evening (a little darker)." He said "Get down and prepare the meal of parched barley for us" Bilaal said: "You are still in daytime". He said "Get down and prepare the meal of parched barley for us" So he got down and prepared the meal for them and the Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) drank. Then he indicated with his hand (and in another narration in al-Bukhari: he pointed with his finger towards the east) and then he said: "If you see the night is approaching from this direction it is time for the fasting person to break his fast"
(al-Bukhari)

Invalidating The Fast

There are a variety of actions which will invalidate a persons fast.

The following actions may require either a Qada or a Kaffarah or both.

Eating or drinking intentionally.

Deliberately making yourself vomit.

The beginning of menstruation or post childbirth bleeding (even in the last moment before sunset)

Intending to break the fast before sunset

Eating, drinking or having sexual intercourse after dawn on the assumption that is not yet dawn, or before Maghrib on the assumption that it is already sunset

Sexual intercourse during fasting

Permitted Actions

Below are a list of things that Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has made permissible for the fasting person:

To begin fasting while in the state of janaabah

Janaabah is the state of requiring a bath due to sexual intercourse.

Aisha (radiyallaahu 'anhaa) and Umm Salamah relate:

"Fajr used to come upon the Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) while he was in a state of sexual defilement from intercourse (from the previous night). He would then take a bath and (continue) fasting."
(al-Bukhari)

Use of the tooth stick

The Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"If I did not fear that I would make it hard on my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the miswaak (to brush their teeth) for every wudu."
(Muslim)

The Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) did not exclude the fasting person from this. This shows that the toothstick (miswaak) is for everyone along with wudu and prayer.

Washing the mouth and nose

The Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to wash his mouth and nose while he was fasting, however he forbade exaggeration in either of these two actions for the fasting person. He said:

"...and exaggerate in washing the nose except if you are fasting..."
(Abu Dawood and Tirmidhee)

Embracing and kissing

This is something disapproved for younger men, but not for older men as they are able to control their desires.

Amr Ibn al-Aas said:

"We were with the Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) when a young man approached him and said 'O Messenger of Allah, can I kiss while fasting?' He said: 'No'. Then an old man came and said: 'can I kiss while fasting?'. He said: 'Yes'. We began to look at each other, and so the Messenger of Allah said: 'The old man can control himself'."
(Ahmad)

Tasting food

Ibn 'Abbaas said:

"Nothing is wrong in tasting vinegar or any other thing while one is fasting, as long as that thing does not enter the throat."
(al-Bukhari)

Using Kuhl (or similar, which enters the eyes)

The conclusion that these things do not break the fast was reached by Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and also by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.

Imam al-Bukhari said:

"Anas, Al-Hassan, and Ibraheem did not see anything wrong for the fasting person who uses kuhl in the eyes."
(al-Bukhari)

Iftaar

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would hasten to breaking the fast (Iftaar) before salatul Maghrib.

Sahl Ibn Sa'd (radi allaho anho) said, the Allahs Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

"The people will continue to be in good condition as long as they hasten to break the fast."
(al-Bukhari)

The fast can be broken with dates and if they are not available, then with water.

Anas Ibn Malik said:

"The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then he would use dried dates. If he could not find that also he drank a few sips of water."
(Ahmad)

Any dua' made at Iftaar will be answered. When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) broke his fast, he used to say:

"The thirst has gone and the veins have recovered and the blessing is established if Allah wills"
(Ahmad)