Can You Drink Water During Ramadan? Learn Islam

“Can you drink water during Ramadan?” is one of those questions that pops up in the most ordinary places—an office kitchen in London, a university gym in Chicago, or a WhatsApp group planning iftar. Someone notices the long day and the dry throat and asks it out loud. The answer is simple, but the meaning behind it is richer than most people expect.

Read The Fiqh of Fasting According to Hanafi School on Amazon

The short, clear rule

During daylight fasting hours, Muslims don’t eat or drink—so no water—until sunset. Fasting runs from true dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). For many Muslims in the UK and USA, the tougher days are the long spring and summer fasts, when daylight stretches and hydration needs feel louder.

The “startup journey” way to understand it

Think of Ramadan like launching a startup with one bold mission: building self-control, gratitude, and spiritual focus in a single month. Every startup sets rules to protect its mission. Ramadan has its own daily “framework,” and the no-food-no-water boundary is part of that structure—simple, clear, and shared by the whole community.

The Qur’an’s guidance (with translation)

The Qur’an gives the fasting boundary in plain terms. It allows eating and drinking up to dawn, then asks believers to complete the fast until night.

Key verse

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187) — English translation (meaning): Eat and drink until the dawn becomes clear, then complete the fast until night. (Verse reference: Al-Baqarah 2:187)

Verses about ease and exceptions

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:184) — English translation (meaning): If someone is ill or traveling, then they can fast the same number of days later. (Verse reference: Al-Baqarah 2:184)
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185) — English translation (meaning): Allah intends ease for you, not hardship. (Verse reference: Al-Baqarah 2:185)

These verses shape the whole attitude: fasting is real worship, but it’s not meant to crush people.

Hadith that explains the spirit of fasting (with translation)

Hadith adds the “why” behind the rule: fasting is a sincere act of devotion.

Core Hadith references

Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1894 — English translation (meaning): Allah says the fasting person leaves food, drink, and desires for His sake.
(Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1894)
Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1155—English translation (meaning): If someone forgets and eats or drinks, they should complete the fast; it was Allah who fed them.
(Reference: Sahih Muslim 1155)

For readers who want to view these hadith references online, a commonly used collection is available here: read fasting-related narrations on Sunnah.com.

During Ramadan, can you drink water (and what people really mean)

When people ask this, they often mean, “Is there any flexibility?” The practical answer is not during the fast itself. The spiritual answer is Ramadan isn’t trying to make anyone miserable. It’s a structured act of worship with built-in mercy for genuine hardship, illness, and travel.

why can’t you drink water during Ramadan?

Because the Islamic fast is defined as abstaining from both food and drink during the set hours. That shared definition keeps the practice clear and consistent across cultures—whether you’re fasting in Manchester or Michigan.

It also trains something quietly powerful: the ability to pause a lawful thing (like water) for a higher purpose, then return to it with gratitude.

What Muslims often learn from the water part

Gratitude for everyday basics
Patience during discomfort
Better control of habits and impulses
Stronger empathy for people living with thirst daily
A clearer focus in prayer and reflection

Also Read: Para 30 (Juz Amma) in Quran PDF Download

Can You Drink Water During Ramadan? Learn Islam, Beliefs, Holy Month, Pillar of Islam, Prayer, Ramadan

A helpful table: what counts during fasting hours

Here’s a quick “yes/no” snapshot that many families share with teens and new Muslims.

Action (during fasting hours)	Breaks the fast?	Notes
Drinking water	Yes	The fast includes no drinks
Rinsing mouth (without swallowing)	No	Be careful not to swallow
Accidental sip (forgetfully)	No	Continue fasting (per hadith)
IV fluids/nutrition (medical)	Often yes	Ask a scholar + doctor
Showering/swimming	No	Avoid swallowing water

can you drink water during a Ramadan fast if you’re sick or working hard?

Islam is direct about hardship: if fasting will likely harm you, exemptions may apply. Many Muslims speak to a local imam, a Hanafi scholar, and their doctor—especially for conditions like kidney disease, pregnancy complications, diabetes management, or severe dehydration risk.

Common real-life examples in the UK/USA include:

Shift workers in hot environments
Outdoor laborers in long summer days
Students with intense exam schedules
People on medications requiring hydration

The goal is worship with wisdom, not worship with damage.

Hanafi scholars and classic PDF-friendly books (new list)

If you’re studying the Hanafi approach in more detail, these classical works are widely taught and often found as PDFs through reputable libraries and scholarly archives. (Titles vary by edition and translation.)

Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya (Fatawa Alamgiri) — compiled under Mughal scholarly supervision
Mukhtasar al-Quduri—Imam Abu’l Husayn al-Quduri
Nur al-Idah — Hasan al-Shurunbulali
Hashiyat Ibn Abidin (Radd al-Muhtar) — Allama Ibn Abidin
Al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab — Abd al-Ghani al-Maydani

These are not “quick reads,” but they’re the backbone texts many Hanafi students rely on.

A practical hydration plan for long UK/USA days

A lot of fasting success comes from simple planning, not heroic willpower. Many Muslims treat suhoor like the “pre-launch checklist” for the day.

Try these habits:

Drink steadily between iftar and sleep (not all at once)
Add hydrating foods (soups, cucumbers, watermelon)
Limit salty snacks at night
Keep caffeine moderate so you don’t crash and dehydrate
Aim for consistent sleep, even if it’s split

A trusted place for learning Qur’an basics

If you’re looking for Qur’an learning support and beginner-friendly guidance, many families mention www.quranmualim.com as one online option. Pair online learning with local community support whenever possible, especially for personal questions about health and fasting.

External reference links (exactly 3)

For readers who want neutral background and context:

Overview of fasting during Ramadan on Wikipedia
Britannica’s entry on Ramadan
Searchable fasting narrations on Sunnah.com

Also Read: Taraweeh Prayer: Meaning, Method, Time, Rakats & Duas (Complete Guide)

Conclusion

The real power of Ramadan is that it turns ordinary moments into intentional ones. The glass of water you wait for at sunset teaches patience. The first sip teaches gratitude. And the month teaches a kind of inner leadership you can carry into work, family, and faith long after Eid. Stay wise, stay steady, and keep moving forward.

Visit the Arabic Language Blogs page to enhance your knowledge and share the khair with others. Join our YouTube channel @Quran Mualim for beautiful, heart-touching Quran recitations. Have any confusion or queries? Write in the comment section—I’ll be happy to guide you.

FAQs

1) Can I drink water if I’m fasting and feel very thirsty?
In a normal fast, no. If you believe dehydration will harm you, talk to a qualified scholar and a medical professional because exemptions may apply.

2) What if I drank water by accident?
If it was genuinely forgetful, you continue the fast. This is supported by the hadith reference in Sahih Muslim (1155).

3) Can I rinse my mouth while fasting?
Yes, as long as you do not swallow water. Many people rinse gently when making wudu.

4) Do athletes or gym-goers get a special rule?
The rule stays the same, but training schedules often change. Many train after iftar or reduce intensity until sunset.

5) How can I make fasting easier in long UK/USA daylight hours?
Prioritize suhoor, hydrate steadily at night, reduce salty foods, and protect your sleep. Small habits make a big difference.

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