Can you brush your teeth while fasting in Ramadan? Full list of dos and don'ts of fasting

Many Muslims all over the world will be well prepared for the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

However, for many 2023 may be their first Ramadan when they've decided to begin fasting, or you may want to support a friend during this month and would simply like to learn more about this important holiday. If you are unfamiliar with Ramadan, you may believe that fasting just involves not eating anything for the day, however, this is not the case.

Fasting (known as 'sawm' in Arabic) is one of the five pillars of Islam - a set of beliefs and practices that are believed to make up the foundation of the religion. The practice comes with very clear and strict rules which are drawn from both the Qur'an (Islam's holiest book) and the Sunnah (traditions and practices of the prophet Muhammadﷺ).

Read more: Fasting times for Ramadan 2023: Full list of when Fajr and Maghrib prayers begin

We've broken down exactly what you should and shouldn't do while fasting during Ramadan. If you are not a practising Muslim but have a friend or family member that is, it's a good idea to learn these so you can help support them during this month...

Many people, even some practising Muslims, may hold some misconceptions about fasting. Because of this, we have compiled a short list that aims to dispel some of these:

Many behaviours and practices are encouraged throughout the year for Muslims, however, these are especially important during Ramadan as the month is considered the perfect time to better yourself and become closer to God (commonly referred to as Allah by Muslims).

The key aspect of fasting is to not eat, drink, or otherwise consume something from sunrise to sunset. This is why, during Ramadan, Muslims will wake up in the early hours