How do I begin my fast and end it?

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, exalted is He, and peace and blessing be upon His Messenger.

Fasting is defined as intentionally refraining from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse from fajr sadiq (true dawn) to sunset.

Thus a person will make intention to the effect that ‘I intend to fast tomorrow for the pleasure of Allah’. This can be done anytime during the time after sunset (the night before) till dawn (fajr time). In the case of the fast of Ramadhan or any other fast that is fixed on a specific date, the one who has not made intention before fajr and has subsequently not done anything to break the fast yet can still make intention to fast for that day before half of the fasting day elapses which about an hour before noon. It is not a requirement or sunnah to verbally pronounce the intention. If anyone makes it without believing it to be sunnah then there is nothing wrong in doing so because this is only to confirm what is in ones heart.

It is sunnah to wake up before dawn and eat something. This is called suhur and is a blessed practice due to the Prophet’s command, ‘Eat suhur for there is blessing in suhur’ (al-Bukhari). It is sunnah that the suhur should be delayed until just before dawn while a person should break the fast by eating or drinking straight after sunset.  It is makruh (disliked) to delay breaking the fast because the Prophet, peace be upon him said, ‘my Ummah will remain in good as long as they break their fast promptly’ (Bukhari). Before breaking the fast one should supplicate to Allah, exalted is He, as he accepts our supplications at this time. Once the time for breaking the fast has arrived, one should break the fast with something sweet, preferably dates, if not then water or with both because the Prophet, peace be upon him broke his fast before prayer on dates, and if there were no dates he took sips of water. (Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi)

And Allah knows best.

Answered by: Maulana Ashraf Zaman