Complete List of Things That Break Your Fast in Ramadan
Scholar Verified
Written by: M. Hamza
Researcher: Ayesha Rahman
Reviewed by: Omar Abdullah
Last Review: 9 September 2026
Our Ramadan information is carefully examined by a qualified Islamic reviewer to help ensure that religious details, references, and guidance are presented accurately and responsibly.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Fasting in Ramadan means staying away from food, drink, sexual activity, and other actions that invalidate the fast from Fajr until Maghrib.
Some matters clearly break the fast. Others do not break it but may reduce its reward. A few rulings differ between Islamic schools of thought, especially in medical cases. This guide mainly follows commonly taught Hanafi rulings. For a personal case, speak to a qualified local scholar.
The main acts that invalidate a fast are:
- Deliberately eating or drinking
- Taking oral medicine
- Sexual intercourse
- Masturbation or sexual touch that causes ejaculation
- Swallowing another person’s saliva
- Deliberate vomiting of a mouthful
- Inserting certain substances into the body through the nose, private parts, or open wounds
- Menstruation or post-natal bleeding
The consequences depend on what happened and whether it was done deliberately.
Some acts require:
- Qada: Making up one missed fast later
- Kaffarah: A serious expiation for deliberately violating a current Ramadan fast
Quick Reference Table
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Holding hands or hugging without desire | Does not break the fast |
| Looking at your spouse | Does not break the fast, even if ejaculation occurs without touch |
| Kissing without desire and without swallowing saliva | Does not break the fast |
| Kissing or touching that causes ejaculation | Breaks the fast; Qada required |
| Deliberate intercourse | Breaks the fast; Qada and Kaffarah may be required |
| Swallowing a spouse’s saliva | Breaks the fast; Qada and Kaffarah may be required in Hanafi fiqh |
Kaffarah only applies when a person deliberately breaks a Ramadan fast without a valid excuse. It does not usually apply to voluntary fasts or Qada fasts.
Other actions break the fast but only require making up that day later. Kaffarah is not required. This can apply when a person makes a mistake, is forced, misunderstands the time of Fajr or Maghrib, or breaks a Qada fast.
Acts That Require Qada and Kaffarah
The following actions require Qada and Kaffarah when done deliberately, willingly, and without a valid excuse during a current Ramadan fast.
Deliberately Eating or Drinking
Eating or drinking something normally consumed by people breaks the fast. This includes food, water, tea, coffee, juice, sweets, and medicine taken by mouth. The item must normally provide nourishment, medical benefit, or pleasure. Deliberately smoking or swallowing a substance that reaches the throat may also break the fast.
Sexual Intercourse
Sexual intercourse during fasting hours breaks the fast, whether ejaculation occurs or not. This applies to intercourse through either private passage. Islam prohibits anal intercourse at all times, including outside Ramadan. A person who breaks the fast through intercourse must repent, avoid food and drink for the rest of the day, make up the fast later, and complete Kaffarah.
Swallowing a Spouse’s Saliva
Swallowing your spouse’s saliva while kissing breaks the fast. If this happens deliberately during a current Ramadan fast, it may require Qada and Kaffarah in Hanafi fiqh.
The standard Kaffarah is fasting for 60 consecutive days. If a person is genuinely unable to complete 60 consecutive fasts, they feed 60 poor people two complete meals each.
The 60 fasts must be consecutive. If the fasts are interrupted without a valid reason, the person must start again. Menstruation and post-natal bleeding are valid interruptions. A woman continues the remaining Kaffarah fasts after becoming pure.
Kaffarah rulings are detailed and may differ by madhhab. Speak to a qualified scholar before deciding what you owe.
Other Actions That Break the Fast (Requiring Qada Only)
Eating or Drinking by Mistake About Time
Your fast is invalid if you eat or drink because you thought Maghrib had started but it had not. The same applies if you eat or drink because you thought Fajr had not started, but it had already begun. In both cases, you make up one fast later. Kaffarah is not required.
Eating After Forgetting
If you eat or drink because you forgot you were fasting, your fast remains valid. However, if you then wrongly assume the fast is already broken and deliberately continue eating or drinking, the fast breaks and Qada is required.
Swallowing Large Food Particles
If food stuck between the teeth is swallowed and is about the size of a chickpea or larger, the fast breaks. A tiny amount of food left between the teeth does not invalidate the fast.
Swallowing Toothpaste or Mouthwash
Swallowing toothpaste, mouthwash, or water while brushing teeth breaks the fast. Brushing without swallowing anything does not break the fast, but many scholars consider toothpaste and mouthwash disliked while fasting because of the risk.
Swallowing Blood From Gums
If blood from the gums is swallowed and the blood is more than the saliva, the fast breaks. If the amount is very small, mixed with saliva, and its taste cannot be noticed, the fast remains valid.
Deliberate Vomiting
Deliberately vomiting a mouthful breaks the fast. Deliberately swallowing a mouthful of vomit also breaks the fast. Vomiting without choice does not break the fast. Vomiting less than a mouthful also does not invalidate the fast in this view.
Inhaling Medicine Through the Nose
Using nasal medicine that reaches the throat breaks the fast. Water that reaches the throat while cleaning the nose during wudu or ghusl also breaks the fast. This is why fasting people should avoid excessive rinsing or sniffing water deeply.
Smoke Entering the Throat Deliberately
Deliberately inhaling smoke can break the fast. This includes smoke from cigarettes, vaping products, or similar substances. Accidental smoke, dust, incense, or perfume entering the throat does not break the fast.
Ejaculation Through Touch or Masturbation
Masturbation, kissing, touching, or foreplay that causes ejaculation breaks the fast and requires Qada. A wet dream does not break the fast because it happens without choice. Ghusl is required before prayer, but the fast remains valid.
Suppositories and Private Medical Treatments
According to Hanafi rulings, inserting suppositories, liquid medicine, wet cotton, or similar items into the anus or vagina can invalidate the fast. Medical details can be complex. If treatment is necessary, take the treatment and ask a scholar whether Qada is required.
Can You Be Affectionate With Your Spouse While Fasting?
Simple affection, such as holding hands or a non-passionate kiss, does not break the fast if it does not lead to sexual activity, ejaculation, or swallowing saliva.
However, passionate kissing, sexual touching, and foreplay are risky while fasting. They may be sinful if there is a real fear of intercourse or ejaculation.
The fast is not only broken by food and drink. Ramadan also teaches Muslims to avoid lying, backbiting, anger, and harmful speech. These actions may not invalidate the fast legally, but they can reduce its spiritual reward.
If you are unsure about a medical treatment, an accidental mistake, or a private matter, do not rely on guesswork. Ask a trusted scholar who understands your madhhab and circumstances.
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