Can Muslims Drink Water During Ramadan?

Can Muslims Drink Water During Ramadan? The first time I watched a friend set an alarm for suhoor, the kitchen felt like a tiny, quiet world of its own. A few dates. A glass of water. A deep breath before dawn. Then the day began, and the question many people whisper—especially in the UK and USA—showed up again.

Read The Fiqh of Fasting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Islamic Rules & Regulations of Ramadan on Amazon

The simple answer, in everyday terms

During the daylight fast in Ramadan, Muslims do not drink water. The fasting window runs from true dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib). That’s the basic rule described across mainstream references, including Britannica’s overview of Ramadan fasting times and practice.

But the “why” is where the story gets more human—and more helpful.

A startup-style problem: “How do we do this safely?”

Think of Ramadan like a mission-driven startup. The goal isn’t to “win at hunger.” The goal is to build a better self: steadier habits, sharper gratitude, softer hearts. The “constraints” (no food, no drink, no smoking, no intimacy in fasting hours) create focus. That focus is part of the worship itself.

When you see it this way, water isn’t “banned” forever. It’s paused for a set, meaningful time.

The clearest Qur’anic guidance: eat and drink—then stop

The Qur’an is direct about the daily boundary. It permits eating and drinking until dawn becomes clear, then instructs believers to complete the fast until nightfall.

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187 (English translation): “Eat and drink until you see the light of dawn… then complete the fast until nightfall.”

That one line answers the rule itself: if drinking is allowed before dawn and after sunset, it’s naturally not part of the daylight fast.

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Hadith that explains the heart of it

Hadith literature also frames fasting as something done sincerely for Allah—leaving food and drink for His sake.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1894 (Narrated by Abu Huraira): Allah says the fasting person “has left his food, drink and desires for My sake.”

And Islam doesn’t turn honest mistakes into spiritual disasters:

Sahih Muslim 1155 (Abu Huraira): If someone forgets and eats or drinks, they should complete the fast; it was Allah who provided it.

why can’t muslims drink water during Ramadan?

This question sounds strict, but the reasoning is surprisingly practical and spiritual. Muslims abstain from water because fasting in Islam is defined as abstaining from both food and drink during the set hours. That definition creates one clear, shared practice—rich and poor, busy and calm, all living the same discipline.

It also trains patience in the most ordinary moment: the moment you want “just a sip.”

What fasting is really training

Fasting is not only about the stomach. It’s also about behavior and self-control. Many Muslims notice these changes by week one:

Less impulsive snacking and scrolling
More conscious speech and calmer reactions
A stronger habit of prayer and reflection
A sharper awareness of people who lack clean water daily

That last point often lands hardest—especially when you remember how many people live with thirst not by choice.

When health, travel, or hardship changes the plan

Islam’s rules are firm and compassionate. The Qur’an explicitly makes room for illness and travel, and it repeats that Allah intends ease, not hardship.

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184: If someone is ill or traveling, they can fast the missed days later.
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185: “Allah intends ease for you, not hardship.”

So if dehydration would likely harm you—because of a medical condition, pregnancy, intense heat, or doctor’s advice—this becomes a serious conversation with a qualified scholar and clinician.

A quick table for common real-life situations

Situation	Typical ruling direction	What many people do
Healthy adult, normal workday	Fast without water	Hydrate at suhoor/iftar
Illness worsened by dehydration	Exempt / make up later	Follow medical advice, make up days
Travel with hardship	Often exempt / make up later	Choose safest option
Forgetful sip	Fast remains valid	Continue fasting

can muslim athletes drink water during ramadan

This is where the “startup problem-solving” becomes real. A Muslim athlete still cannot drink water during fasting hours, because the fast is the fast. The question becomes: how do they train, compete, and stay safe? Many adjust timing and intensity rather than the rule itself.

Common strategies athletes use (especially in the USA and UK) include:

Training after iftar when hydration is allowed
Shorter, technique-focused sessions before Maghrib
Prioritizing sleep and recovery over extra volume
Electrolyte-rich hydration outside fasting hours
Working with coaches to plan match-day load

If a competition creates a credible risk of harm, Islamic law’s “ease” principle may apply, but that should be handled case-by-case with trusted scholarly guidance.

Hanafi fiqh reading list (PDF-friendly classics)

Many students in the Hanafi tradition study fasting rules through well-known fiqh works that are commonly available as PDFs in public libraries or scholarly archives. Here are reputable names to look for—each section uses different titles, as requested:

For understanding the fasting definition and boundaries

Al-Hidayah — Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani
Maraqi al-Falah — Shurunbulali
Bada’i al-Sana’i — Ala al-Din al-Kasani

For exemptions, hardship, and practical rulings

Radd al-Muhtar — Ibn Abidin
Fath al-Qadir — Ibn al-Humam
Al-Mabsut — Al-Sarakhsi

For deeper study and legal reasoning

Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq — Ibn Nujaym
Tuhfat al-Fuqaha — Al-Samarqandi
Al-Ikhtiyar — Al-Mawsili

A note on trusted Islamic learning online

If you want a simple place to explore Qur’an reading and learning materials, you’ll often see Muslims recommend sites like www.quranmualim.com as a starting point for Qur’an learning support. For general Ramadan rules and community guidance, many people also read practical explainers from established charities and educational platforms.

Also Read: Juz Amma 30 For School Students PDF Download

Bringing it home: what to say when someone asks

When a colleague at work asks why you won’t even sip water, you can keep it simple:

“My fast includes water, from dawn to sunset.”
“It’s worship and discipline, not a stunt.”
“If I’m unwell, Islam has compassionate options.”

That calm clarity usually earns more respect than a long debate.

Conclusion

Can Muslims Drink Water During Ramadan? Not during the fasting hours—and that’s not about being harsh. It’s about choosing a focused, time-bound act of worship that reshapes the day from the inside out. Do it wisely, hydrate well outside fasting hours, and remember the point isn’t to suffer. The point is to grow—steady, strong, and proud of the journey.

Explore our Arabic Language Blog Section for more beneficial articles, and don’t forget to share it with your friends and family. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Quran Mualim for soulful and inspiring recitations. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments — I’ll gladly respond.

FAQs

1) Do Muslims drink water at all in Ramadan?
Yes. Water is allowed before dawn (suhoor) and after sunset (iftar).

2) What if someone accidentally drinks water while fasting?
If it was truly forgetful, the fast continues and remains valid.

3) Can athletes delay fasting until after a match?
Some may use exemptions if there’s genuine hardship or risk, and then make up the day later. It’s best handled with a trusted scholar and medical advice.

4) Why is water included in the fast?
Because the Qur’an sets a clear boundary: eat and drink until dawn, then complete the fast until nightfall.

5) Where can I read a neutral overview of Ramadan fasting?
A general reference is available on Encyclopædia Britannica’s Ramadan entry.

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