and physical ability to fast.
The compulsory elements of fasting are four:
- Forming the intention;
- Abstaining from food and drink;
- Refraining from sexual intercourse; and
- Avoiding deliberate vomiting.
A fast is broken by ten things:
- Allowing anything, deliberately, to reach the stomach cavity or the head;
- Inserting an enema or suppository into either passage;
- Intentional vomiting;
- Deliberate vaginal intercourse;
- Ejaculation caused by physical contact;
- Menstruation;
- Post-partum bleeding;
- Insanity;
- Remaining unconscious for the whole day; and
- Apostasy.
Three matters are recommended while fasting: hastening to break the fast, delaying the pre-dawn meal (suḥūr), and avoiding offensive speech.
It is forbidden to fast on five days: the two ‘Īd days and the three Days of Tashrīq.
It is disliked to fast the “day of doubt” unless it coincides with one’s regular practice or is joined to the day before it.
Whoever engages in deliberate vaginal intercourse during the daytime of Ramadan must make up that day and offer expiation: freeing a believing slave; if unable, then fasting two consecutive months; if unable, then feeding sixty needy people, one mud of food for each.
If someone dies owing days of Ramadan fasts, a mud of food is given on his behalf for every day missed.
An elderly person who cannot fast breaks the fast and feeds one mud per day.
A pregnant or nursing woman who fears harm for herself may break the fast and must make it up; if she fears for her child, she must both make it up and, as expiation, feed one mud per day—equivalent to one Iraqi ratl and a third.
The sick person and the traveller on a long journey may break the fast and make it up later.
Section: Iʿtikāf is a recommended sunnah. It has two conditions: intention and remaining in the mosque. One who has vowed iʿtikāf may not leave it except for personal necessities or an excuse such as menstruation or illness that makes staying impossible. It is nullified by sexual intercourse.