Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is also the holiest, most significant time of the year for Muslims. During this month, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise till sunset. The month of Ramadan brings blessings and barakah for Muslims. Every adult, sane, and healthy Muslim must fast during this month. While a simple intention or niyyah is enough to start and break the fasts, the best way is to say a masnoon dua while starting or breaking your fast.
Muslims may recite the dua below before or immediately after breaking their fast. With this dua, we verbally express our intention of opening or breaking our fast. We affirm that we fasted only for Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and believe only in Him. It also affirms that we only believe in Allah and perform religious actions for Him alone.
Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa ala rizq-ika-aftartu
O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance
Looking at the meaning of this dua more closely, we can see that it’s very relevant to the act of fasting specifically. Fasting is an act of worship that depends on taqwa alone. When Muslims fast, they do not eat or drink, even when famished. During wudhu, a fasting person rinses their mouth and spits the water back out, not consuming even a single drop. This conscious abstinence from food and water is only done to obey the order of Allah. Thus, Muslims refrain from fulfilling their basic bodily need of nourishment because Allah orders them to abstain. Thus, giving their obedience to Allah and submitting to His will without question. This defines a Muslim’s belief in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
The next part of the dua deals with the trust and tawakkul that a Muslim has in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Many duas mention tawakkul, including the dua for leaving the home. It’s part of the essence of a Muslim’s belief, which is enhanced when a person fasts.
A fasting Muslim has tawakkul that they will get to eat and drink at the end of the day. They also trust that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) will help them through the difficulties of a fasting day. It is also tawakkul in the belief that they will get multiple rewards for their fasting and that this act will help them on the Day of Judgement.
The last part of the dua refers to the person breaking his fast with the sustenance provided by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It reaffirms the belief that it is only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) who can give us sustenance and life. We might have spent the whole day cooking or ordered a lavish feast. Others may only have dry bread and water or dates to break their fast. It is Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) who decides and knows best. Therefore, we need to thank Him and be grateful for what we get.