What are the fasting rules during Ramadan?

DURING the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims from across the globe abstain from eating or drinking during the day.

Ramadan is a time filled with prayer and those who celebrate will often attend daily prayer at mosques for the duration of the festival.

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What are the rules of fasting during Ramadan?

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are obliged to abstain from eating or drinking during daylight hours.

If a fast is broken, it will need to be compensated for by fasting at a later date.

Or they can pay “fidyah”, a religious term for donation of food or money.

Adult Muslims are expected to fast as it is one of the five pillars of Islam.

However, there are some allowances for those who are pregnant, ill, or menstruating.

It is thought abstaining from these activities will lead to greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of God.

A pre-fast meal is eaten before dawn, called the suhur, and a meal is eaten to break the fast once the sun sets – iftar.

How long do Muslims fast for?

Ramadan is 30 days long and begins with the first crescent moon in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.

The first day of fasting begins on April 2, 2022.

Fasting will begin at sunrise after suhur and then finish at sunset with iftar.

The final iftar should take place on the evening of May 1.

Do children fast?

Muslim children are expected to begin fasting once they have reached puberty, usually by the age of 14.

There is no national law that prevents young children or teens from fasting.

The NHS advises against children below the age of eight from participating in the fast.

Advice from the national health body reads: “It’s a good idea to make children aware of what fasting involves and to practice fasting for a few hours at a time.”

It is important that anyone who is fasting continues to get their daily recommended nutrients, no matter what age they are.