Etiquette & Sunnahs of Fasting in the Quran & Sunnah

1. Fasting was prescribed for you — so that you may become righteous.

Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing, (Surah al-Baqarah 2:183)

Lesson: The purpose of the fast is taqwa: every etiquette of fasting serves this one goal.

2. Whoever witnesses the month of Ramadan, let him fast it.

Allah says:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’ān was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So those of you who witness the month must fast in it. But the one who is sick, or is on a journey (should fast) as much from other days (as he missed). Allah intends (to provide) ease for you and does not intend (to create) hardship for you. All this is so that you may complete the number (of fasts as prescribed) and proclaim the Takbīr of Allah for having guided you, and (so) that you may be grateful. (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)

Lesson: The month in which the Quran was sent down as guidance — Allah intends ease for you in it, not hardship, and asks that you glorify Him for the guidance.

1. Fast Ramadan with faith and in hope of reward.

“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.” The fast is entered with belief in its promise, not as a mere custom.

2. When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Heaven are opened and the devils are chained.

“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of the Fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” The month itself is prepared for you — prepare yourself for it.

3. Remember whose fast it is: “Fasting is for Me, and I Myself reward it.”

Allah says: every deed of the son of Adam is his except fasting — “it is for Me and I shall reward it.” And the fasting person has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast, and a joy when he meets his Lord.

4. The fast is a shield — guard your tongue inside it.

“Fasting is a shield. So let him not use obscene speech and not behave ignorantly; and if a man fights him or insults him, let him say: I am fasting, I am fasting.”

5. A fast with lying and evil deeds is a hunger Allah does not need.

“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.”

6. Take the suhoor — there is blessing in it.

“Eat the suhoor, for indeed there is blessing in the suhoor.” Even a sip of water and a date before dawn carries its own barakah.

7. Suhoor is the mark that distinguishes our fasting.

“The difference between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the eating of the suhoor.”

8. Hasten to break the fast the moment the sun sets.

“The people will remain upon goodness so long as they hasten the iftar.” Delay past its time is not piety.

9. Break the fast with fresh dates before the prayer — or dried dates, or water.

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would break his fast with fresh dates before performing the prayer; if there were no fresh dates, then with dried dates; and if there were none of those, he would take sips of water.

10. Say the iftar dua as you break the fast.

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Dhahabadh-dhama’u wabtallatil-‘uruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha Allah — The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.

11. Give iftar to a fasting person and share his reward entirely.

“Whoever provides iftar for a fasting person will have the like of his reward, without that decreasing the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.”

12. Do not fast a day or two just before Ramadan “just in case.”

“Let none of you precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it — except a man who used to fast a regular fast, let him fast it.”

13. On a journey, do not make fasting a hardship — ease is also Sunnah.

Seeing a man being shaded (from collapse) on a journey in Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ said: “It is not righteousness to fast on a journey.” Allah loves that His concessions be taken, as He loves that His commands be obeyed.

14. Fast the white days — the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month.

Three days of fasting every month was the Prophet’s standing counsel — the white days (13th, 14th and 15th) keep the body and heart in training between one Ramadan and the next.

15. Follow Ramadan with six days of Shawwal — like fasting a lifetime.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime.”

16. Fast the Day of ‘Arafah — it expiates two years.

Asked about fasting, the Prophet ﷺ said: “I hope from Allah that fasting the Day of ‘Arafah expiates the sins of the year before it and the year after it.” — for the one who is not standing at ‘Arafah in Hajj.

17. Fast the Day of ‘Ashura — it expiates the year before it.

“And I hope from Allah that fasting the Day of ‘Ashura expiates the sins of the year before it.”

18. Do not fast day and night without breaking — al-wisal is forbidden.

The Prophet ﷺ forbade al-wisal (fasting continuously without breaking). When they said, “But you practise it,” he replied: “Who among you is like me? I am given food and drink during my sleep by my Lord.” Worship is by his pattern, not by excess.

19. Fast Mondays and Thursdays — the days on which deeds are raised.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”