Fasting in Ramadan is one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam, but many Muslims unknowingly sabotage their fast with poor eating habits that leave them feeling miserable throughout the day. Understanding the proper etiquettes of suhoor and iftar — as taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — transforms fasting from a struggle of hunger and thirst into a spiritually uplifting experience filled with energy and devotion.
The Sunnah Way to Start Your Fast
The biggest mistake at suhoor is eating a heavy meal thinking it will sustain you throughout the day. In reality, a heavy meal triggers intense digestive processes that actually make you hungrier sooner. The Sunnah is to have a light, slow-digesting meal — grains, porridge, dates, a bit of milk, and water. This approach uses less energy for digestion and keeps the stomach calm throughout the entire fasting day.
“When you eat less, you are less prone to becoming hungry quickly. This is one of the secrets of fasting — something a lot of people are unaware of.”
Breaking Your Fast the Right Way
- Start with water and dates — This is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and is scientifically the healthiest way to break a fast; dates are high in iron and fiber
- Add yogurt and bread — Simple, wholesome foods that nourish without overwhelming an empty stomach
- Avoid fried foods at iftar — Samosas, fries, and heavy fried items are among the most unhealthy things you can eat on an empty stomach
- Keep the evening meal light — A heavy iftar makes Taraweeh prayer uncomfortable and turns the masjid into an unpleasant experience for everyone
“If you are going to eat a whole load of biryani and your belly is popping out, you think you’re going to read Salah? You will start with Allahu Akbar and your hands are tied because that’s your belly. Be a respectable person — that is not how you should treat Ramadan.”
Discipline Is the Heart of Fasting
Allah asks believers to abstain from food from morning to evening, and the evening meal is not meant to make up for what was missed during the day. True fasting requires discipline in both abstinence and consumption. When Muslims follow the Sunnah in their eating habits during Ramadan, they experience the month as it was intended — a time of spiritual growth, physical lightness, and deep connection with the Creator.
