How do I fast on very hot days?
Hydrate well at night, stay cool and in the shade, slow down in the hottest hours, and cool your body with water on the outside. If the heat makes you dangerously unwell, you may break the fast and make it up later.
The Prophet ﷺ fasted in the heat too
Abu ad-Darda said they once travelled with the Prophet ﷺ in Ramadan on a day so hot that people put their hands on their heads to shade themselves, and only the Prophet ﷺ and Abdullah ibn Rawahah were fasting (Sahih al-Bukhari 1945; Sahih Muslim 1122). The Companions also reported that the Prophet ﷺ poured water over his head while fasting because of thirst or heat. Cooling the body from the outside is not a problem.
Before the day starts
- Drink steadily from iftar to suhoor, not all at once.
- Eat a proper suhoor with slow-release food and some protein, like eggs or yoghurt, and keep salty food to a minimum.
- Add water-rich food: cucumber, watermelon, yoghurt, soup.
- Plan your day so errands and exercise happen early morning or after iftar.
More detail here: What is suhoor and what should I eat?
During the hottest hours
- Stay indoors or in the shade between about 12:00 and 16:00.
- Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothes and a hat outdoors.
- Use a fan, close curtains, and keep a damp cloth on your neck.
- Take cool showers or rinse with water; just don't swallow any. See Does showering break my fast?
- Rest. A short afternoon nap saves energy and water.
If you work outdoors, talk to your manager about earlier shifts or extra breaks in the shade. See Can I fast if I have a physical job?
When to break the fast
Heat illness is dangerous. Signs include dizziness, a pounding headache, confusion, nausea, very fast heartbeat, cramps or fainting. If these appear, get into the shade, drink and break your fast. Islam is clear that the fast should not destroy you:
You simply make the day up later, perhaps on a cooler winter day when fasts are short.
- The Prophet ﷺ fasted in great heat and cooled himself with water.
- Hydrate and eat well between iftar and suhoor.
- Avoid the sun and hard work in the hottest hours.
- Signs of heat illness: break the fast and make it up later.
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