The Beginner’s Guide
To Fasting in Islam
Welcome to the third guide on our website, the Beginner’s Guide on How to Fast! We hope you will find great value in reading this free guide. It covers the fourth pillar of Islam which is fasting in the month of Ramadan as well as other types of fasting.
Why We Wrote This Guide
Fasting in Islam is one of the most recognizable acts that Muslims do. This guide will cover all of the important subjects every Muslim needs to know when it comes to fasting:
- Why do Muslims fast anyway?
- What is so special about the month of Ramadan?
- What are the virtues and rewards for fasting?
- Are there optional fasting days beyond Ramadan?
- What should you do if you’re sick or menstruating and cannot fast?
- …and much more!
We made this guide beginner-friendly so anyone can read it, understand it, and put it into practice. The study of fasting can feel overwhelming with all of the things a Muslim needs to know, but we’ve broken this guide down into easy to digest chapters so you will find it easy to understand.
Secondly, all of the verses that are referenced from the Holy Qur’an are written in English. Furthermore, all of the hadeeth, which are narrations from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are also written in English. Although verses from the Qur’an and the hadith are originally in Arabic, any English translations within this guide are meant to be interpretations of the meaning, and not an exact word-for-word definition.
Thirdly, we like to use media such as audio clips, images, and short videos to show you how fasting is performed and allow you to learn this subject at a comfortable pace.
That brings us to the end of our introduction. Without further ado let’s jump into the guide!
“There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed…”Prophet MuhammadTweet This
In this guide you’ll learn:
Chapter 1 – Intro to Fasting in Islam
In this chapter you will learn the following:
- What is fasting in Islam?
- Why do Muslims fast?
- What are the virtues of fasting?
Chapter 2 – Intro to Ramadan
You will learn what Ramadan is all about and what makes this month so special. You will also learn about the virtues of fasting in Ramadan.
Chapter 3 – What You Need to Know Before Ramadan Begins
As Muslims, we should look forward to Ramadan just like the prior generations of Muslims used to do. Similarly, we should strive to understand the value and virtues of Ramadan the way they understood it.
Chapter 4 – Checklist: What is Required for Fasting in Islam
Learn about the who, what, why of fasting in Ramadan including its conditions, pillars, exemptions, and nullifiers.
Chapter 5 – How a Muslim Can Fast, Step by Fast
We will break down the steps required to fast correctly, starting from the intention and suhoor all the way to things to avoid while fasting.
Chapter 6 – Opportunities to Fast Outside Ramadan
You will learn about the other days of the week/year that a Muslim can fast to earn more reward.
Chapter 7 – Myths & Misconceptions about Fasting
In this chapter we are going to address a few myths or misconceptions about Ramadan that have not already been covered in previous chapters.
Chapter 8 – Keeping the Momentum after Ramadan
Many of us also struggle to maintain our increased good habits after the “high” of Ramadan passes. Despite the month coming to an end, we can still keep up the momentum throughout the year.