In the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon. Between sunset and sunrise, we must refrain from eating, drinking and physical intimacy. The month of Ramadan is the 10th month of the lunar calendar, and so each year this moves earlier by approximately ten days.
At the time of breaking fast, a special duaa should be made just before anything is eaten or drunk:
Duaa for breaking fast in Ramadan:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمتُ وَعَلَى رِزقِكَ أَفطَرتُ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni laka sumtu, wa bika aamantu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa Ala rizqika aftartu
English translation: Oh Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You, and I put my trust in You, and I break my fast with Your sustenance.
Making duaa at the time of opening fast
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “There are three whose duaa is not rejected – a just ruler, the fasting person when he breaks his fast, and the prayer of the oppressed person. It rises above the clouds and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and the Lord, may He be glorified, says, ‘By My Glory, I will answer you even if it is after a while.’”
Allah greatly appreciates when you make duaa at such a difficult time, and when fasting this is in the last few moments where your hunger is at its peak and are preparing to eat. By making duaa at this time, you are able to strengthen your relationship with Allah (swt) and focus on why you have been fasting, rather than being distracted by food.
It’s important that we don’t waste that valuable guaranteed moment where our duaa is not rejected by losing focus at the sight of food – put aside a few minutes to praise Allah, asking Him for all your needs.
When the companions of the prophet (pbuh) broke their fast, they would say:
“O Allah, I ask of You, by Your mercy that encompasses everything, to forgive me.”
Ibn Majah reported from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected.”
Fasting for the sake of Allah (swt)
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for himself, except for fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: “I am fasting”.
By Him (Allah), in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy: one is when he breaks the fast, he is glad about the breaking of (the fast), and (the other) is when he meets his Lord he is glad about his fast.”
(Sahih Muslim)
