What breaks the fast in Ramadan?

The short answer

A fast is broken by eating or drinking on purpose, intercourse in the day, vomiting on purpose, and by menstruation or post-birth bleeding. It is not broken by eating or drinking by mistake, swallowing saliva, brushing your teeth with care, or vomiting that comes by itself. For medical cases, ask your scholar.

The fast (sawm) runs from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). During this time a Muslim stays away from food, drink and intercourse. These are the main things that break the fast, and Muslims widely agree on them.

Things that break the fast (widely agreed)
Action	Effect on the fast	Note
Eating or drinking on purpose	Breaks the fast	Includes any food or drink, even a small amount.
Sexual intercourse in the day	Breaks the fast	Also needs Kaffarah (a penalty) if done on purpose in Ramadan. See Fidya and Kaffarah.
Vomiting on purpose	Breaks the fast	Vomiting that comes by itself does not.
Menstruation or post-birth bleeding	Breaks the fast	Women do not fast in these days and make up the days later.
Deciding to break the fast	Breaks the fast	Even if you do not eat, a firm decision to stop fasting ends it.

For the full meaning of fasting, see Sawm: fasting in Islam.

What does not break the fast?

Many everyday things do not break the fast. If you did not choose them, or they do not feed the body, your fast is still valid.

Things that do not break the fast (widely agreed)
Action	Effect on the fast	Note
Eating or drinking by mistake	Does not break the fast	Stop when you remember and carry on fasting.
Swallowing your own saliva	Does not break the fast	This is normal.
Brushing your teeth	Does not break the fast	Take care not to swallow the water or paste.
Rinsing the mouth or nose in wudu	Does not break the fast	Do not breathe water in deeply.
Vomiting that comes by itself	Does not break the fast	You did not choose it.
Taking a bath or shower, or swimming	Does not break the fast	Do not swallow the water.
Smelling perfume, food or incense	Does not break the fast	Avoid breathing smoke in on purpose.
Wet dream or a sudden nosebleed	Does not break the fast	These happen without choice.

What if I eat or drink by mistake?

Your fast is still valid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that if a fasting person eats or drinks by mistake, they should complete the fast, because Allah fed and gave them drink.

Stop as soon as you remember. If you see another person eating by mistake, remind them kindly.

Do medicine, injections and drops break the fast?

This is where scholars differ. Some modern things were not known in early times, so scholars use general principles. The table shows the common views. It is not a ruling for your own case.

Cases where scholars differ
Situation	What scholars say
Injections (for example insulin or vaccines)	Many scholars say no. Some say it depends on whether it feeds the body.
Blood tests	Many scholars say no.
Eye drops and ear drops	Scholars differ.
Asthma inhalers	Scholars differ, and many modern scholars allow them.
Cupping and giving blood	Scholars differ.
Medicine tablets, syrups and suppositories	Tablets and syrups taken by mouth break the fast. Others vary. Ask a scholar.

If you are ill and take medicine daily, ask a scholar or your doctor. Islam allows the sick to delay the fast, and a person with a long-term illness may pay Fidya instead.

What should I do if my fast is broken?

If you broke the fast by mistake or because of illness, travel or other excuse, you make up that day after Ramadan. This is called Qada.

By mistake: the fast is valid, so nothing to make up.
On purpose, without a valid excuse: repent, make up the day and ask a scholar if anything more is needed.
Intercourse on purpose in Ramadan: Kaffarah is also due. Read Fidya and Kaffarah.

Schools of thought differ on some details of Kaffarah, so ask your local imam.

Who is allowed not to fast?

Islam gives relief to people who would be harmed by fasting. They are the sick, travellers, women on their period or in post-birth bleeding, and (by many scholars) pregnant and breastfeeding women who fear harm. Children who have not reached puberty do not have to fast.

Most make up the missed days later. Those who can never fast, for example because of old age or lasting illness, pay Fidya. Qur’an 2:183 to 2:185 speaks about fasting and these allowances.

How can I keep my fast safely in hot places like Garissa or Mombasa?

The fast is about 13 hours in Kenya. In hot weather, take care of your body so you can fast well.

Drink water and eat well at suhoor and iftar.
Avoid heavy work in the midday heat when you can.
Rest in the shade and keep cool.
Break the fast and seek help if you feel faint or very ill. Your health comes first.

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Frequently asked questions

What breaks the fast in Islam?

Eating or drinking on purpose, intercourse in the daytime, vomiting on purpose, and menstruation or post-birth bleeding break the fast. A firm decision to stop fasting also ends it. Muslims widely agree on these points.

Does eating or drinking by mistake break the fast?

No. If you eat or drink because you forgot you were fasting, your fast is still valid. Stop when you remember and complete the day. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that Allah has fed and given you drink.

Does brushing teeth break the fast?

No, brushing your teeth does not break the fast, if you do not swallow water or paste. Many people brush before Fajr and again after iftar. Scholars differ on using toothpaste in the day, so be careful.

Does swallowing saliva break the fast?

No. Swallowing your own saliva does not break the fast. It is natural and unavoidable. Bringing up phlegm from the chest and swallowing it on purpose is a point where scholars differ, so spit it out.

Do injections or blood tests break the fast?

Many scholars say that blood tests and injections that do not feed the body do not break the fast, but views differ. If you need regular treatment such as insulin, ask your doctor and a scholar.

What if I vomit while fasting?

If vomiting comes by itself, the fast is still valid. If you make yourself vomit on purpose, the fast is broken and you make up that day after Ramadan.

What if I break my fast on purpose in Ramadan?

Repent to Allah and make up the day after Ramadan. Intercourse on purpose in the day also needs Kaffarah. Schools of thought differ on details, so ask your local imam or scholar.

Who can skip fasting in Ramadan?

The sick, travellers, women on their period or in post-birth bleeding, and children before puberty can skip fasting. Most make up the days later. People who can never fast pay Fidya.

Rulings on this page are general guidance, not a fatwa. Ask your local scholar about your own situation. Last reviewed 2 October 2026.

What breaks the fast in Ramadan?