Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, the Qur’an was revealed. Throughout this month, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink from dawn until sunset.

The day begins at dawn, when one can distinguish a white thread from a black thread. This corresponds to the time of the first prayer (Fajr).

Ramadan is obligatory for every adult Muslim. Exceptions include children, pregnant women, and menstruating women. The sick, elderly people, and travelers may make up the missed days after Ramadan.

Elderly people and those with chronic illnesses are not required to fast. Instead, they must provide food to a needy person for each missed day.

Laylat al-Qadr — the night in which the Qur’an was sent down — occurs in one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ recommended seeking it especially on the 27th night.

A Muslim fasts in order to attain Allah’s pleasure and hopes for a great reward. The month of Ramadan is a time of repentance, reflection, and hope for forgiveness. Through fasting, a Muslim seeks to improve their spiritual state as well as achieve physical and psychological purification. Ramadan also strongly enhances the sense of community and brings social bonds closer together.

During the fasting period, a Muslim must abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations. In addition, fasting is about combating bad character traits. Therefore, Muslims should refrain from bad behavior and sins, especially during this month.

Yes, smoking invalidates the fast, as certain substances from tobacco smoke enter the stomach through saliva. In addition, smoking is extremely harmful to health and is considered forbidden by the vast majority of scholars. Ramadan is a good opportunity to quit.

A sick person is allowed to break the fast if fasting becomes physically unbearable. Minor ailments such as mild headaches are not considered valid reasons for breaking the fast. If fasting prevents recovery, delays healing, or causes harm, the person must break the fast. The missed days must be made up once the person has recovered. Allah says: “And whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days.” (2:185)
Allah says: “(...) but whoever is ill or on a journey — then an equal number of other days (are to be made up).” (2:185)

A pregnant woman is permitted to break her fast if she finds it physically difficult due to health reasons. If fasting seriously affects her health or the health of the child, she is obliged to break the fast. She must make up the missed days at a later time without having to pay expiation (fidya).

As soon as one remembers, they must stop immediately. If there is still something in the mouth, it should be spat out without delay. In this case, the fast remains valid, and the person continues fasting without having to make up the day. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink.” (Bukhari 1399, Muslim 1155)

It begins with the time of the Fajr prayer (first dawn) and ends with the time of the Maghrib prayer, that is, at sunset.