Allah allows eating, drinking and marital relations during the nights of Ramadan until the white thread of dawn shows clearly from the black thread, and then commands completing the fast until the night (2:187). The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever eats or drinks forgetfully should complete his fast, since Allah has fed and given him drink.
1What breaks the fast (agreed)
Eating or drinking on purpose.
Sexual intercourse, which also requires expiation (kaffarah): freeing a slave, and if not possible, fasting two months in a row, and if not possible feeding sixty poor people.
Deliberately vomiting.
Menstruation or postnatal bleeding, even at the last minute before sunset.
Ejaculation caused deliberately.
2What does not break it
Eating or drinking by forgetfulness, as in the hadith.
Swallowing saliva, or dust and smoke that enters without intent.
Using the siwak, or perfume, and taking a bath.
Blood tests and injections that are not for nutrition.
Involuntary vomiting, or a wet dream.
3The intention
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever does not make the intention to fast before dawn has no fast (reported by Abu Dawud, graded sahih by many). The intention is in the heart and does not need to be spoken.
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
The intention each night. the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools require it every night for the obligatory fast; the Maliki school accepts one intention at the start of the month for the whole month, and the Hanafi school accepts the intention before midday for the fast of Ramadan.
Expiation for breaking the fast on purpose by eating or drinking. the Hanafi and Maliki schools require it; the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools require it only for intercourse.
The point of the hadith: Whoever eats or drinks by forgetfulness should complete his fast, because Allah fed him and gave him drink.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا نَسِيَ فَأَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ ".
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
What breaks the fast and what does not
Allah allows eating, drinking and marital relations during the nights of Ramadan until the white thread of dawn shows clearly from the black thread, and then commands completing the fast until the night (2:187). The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever eats or drinks forgetfully should complete his fast, since Allah has fed and given him drink.
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
