Dua for Starting the Fast | Immense Gratitude in the Act of Fasting | All praise is due to Allah ﷻ — the Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Among His infinite blessings is the opportunity to observe the fasts, especially during the sacred month of Ramadan. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink; it is a profound spiritual practice that purifies the heart, disciplines the soul, and strengthens our connection with the Divine.
Each fast we begin is an act of devotion, a silent declaration of submission, and a moment to draw nearer to Allah ﷻ. At the heart of this noble act lies a powerful but simple intention — the duʿāʾ for beginning the fast.
The Significance of Fasting in Islam
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and holds immense spiritual and moral value. The Qur’an emphasizes the purpose of fasting:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Transliteration: Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū kutiba ʿalaykumu al-ṣiyāmu kamā kutiba ʿala alladhīna min qablikum laʿallakum tattaqūn
Translation: O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (God-consciousness).
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)
This verse reminds us that fasting is not a burden but a path to spiritual elevation. It helps suppress our lower desires and strengthens our will, allowing us to appreciate Allah’s blessings more deeply.
Dua for Starting the Fast | Sacred Words of Intention
Before the fast begins — usually before Fajr (dawn) — it is recommended to make the niyyah (intention). While this intention resides in the heart, scholars have permitted verbalizing it as a way of strengthening mindfulness.
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Transliteration: Wa bi-ṣawmi ghadin nawaytu min shahri Ramaḍān
Translation: I intend to fast tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.
Although this exact wording is not found in a specific hadith, the act of forming a niyyah before an obligatory fast is agreed upon by all scholars, based on the hadith:
“Actions are judged by intentions…”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907
The niyyah doesn’t need to be spoken aloud, but doing so can help focus the heart.
The Power Behind the Intention
The essence of fasting lies in its purpose and sincerity. The duʿāʾ for starting the fast is more than just a phrase — it is a commitment to Allah ﷻ. The word “nawaytu” (I intend) turns a simple daily routine into a sacred act of worship.
In Islam, the niyyah gives weight and direction to every deed. Even actions like sleeping, eating, or walking — when done for the sake of Allah ﷻ — become acts of ibādah (worship). Thus, when we utter this duʿāʾ, we are making a spiritual contract: dedicating our hunger, thirst, and discipline solely for the sake of our Lord.
Fasting: A Journey of Self-Purification
Fasting is a daily test of patience, discipline, and obedience. With each hunger pang, we are reminded that true sustenance comes only from Allah ﷻ. The fast refines our character, softens our hearts, and increases empathy toward the poor and hungry.
The duʿāʾ to begin the fast serves as a daily renewal of our intention and commitment to this spiritual journey. When spoken from the heart, it aligns our purpose with the worship of Allah ﷻ — and it is in that alignment that true transformation begins.
Starting the Fast with Spiritual Awareness
The act of beginning the fast with conscious duʿāʾ is a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with Allah ﷻ. It’s easy to wake up, eat suḥūr, and move on with the day without taking a moment to spiritually engage with what we are about to do. But by intentionally pausing to make duʿāʾ, we elevate the act of fasting from a physical discipline to a sacred ritual.
The fast then becomes not just an act of abstinence, but an act of presence — presence of mind, presence of heart, and presence of soul.
Why Suḥūr Matters — Even Spiritually
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to eat suḥūr, not just for energy but for spiritual benefit:
“Take suḥūr, for in suḥūr there is blessing (barakah).”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1923, Sahih Muslim 1059
Eating suḥūr is not only a source of physical nourishment but an act of obedience. It is during suḥūr that we quietly prepare our bodies and hearts for a day of devotion — and in that window of silence before Fajr, we make our niyyah.
Common Questions About the Niyyah (Intention)
1. Do I have to say the niyyah out loud?
No. According to all four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, the niyyah resides in the heart. Verbalizing it is permissible but not obligatory. What matters most is your internal resolve to fast.
2. Do I need to repeat the niyyah every day during Ramadan?
- According to the Shāfiʿī and Ḥanbalī schools, a new niyyah is required each night before Fajr.
- The Ḥanafī school allows a single niyyah for the whole month if uninterrupted.
- To be cautious and mindful, it’s best to renew your intention daily.
3. What if I forget to make the niyyah?
If your heart was set on fasting and you woke up for suḥūr or abstained from food with the intention of fasting, your fast is valid, even if you did not verbalize it.
The Heart Behind the Fast
Fasting is not just about avoiding food and drink. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6057
This means that the intention behind the fast must be sincere, and our behavior should reflect the purpose of the fast. Starting the day with a sincere duʿāʾ helps align our actions with our spiritual goals.
A Moment for Duʿāʾ at Suḥūr
In addition to the niyyah, suḥūr is a precious time to engage in duʿāʾ for your needs, forgiveness, guidance, and blessings.
The last third of the night — which includes suḥūr time — is described in a famous hadith:
“Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758
This is the ideal moment to pour out your heart in duʿāʾ — before the day of fasting begins.
Additional Recommended Duʿāʾs Before or During Fasting
Here are a few duʿāʾs to recite before or during fasting, especially in the morning or at any time in the day:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ رِضَاكَ وَالْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَالنَّارِ
Transliteration: Allāhumma innī asʾaluka fī hādhā al-yawm riḍāka wa al-jannah, wa aʿūdhu bika min sakhaṭika wa al-nār
Translation: O Allah, on this day I ask You for Your pleasure and for Paradise, and I seek refuge in You from Your anger and the Fire.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى صِيَامِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَقِيَامِهِ، وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي
Transliteration: Allāhumma aʿinnī ʿalā ṣiyāmi hādhā al-yawm wa qiyāmihi, wa taqabbalhu minnī
Translation: O Allah, help me to fast this day and to stand in prayer during it, and accept it from me.
Final Reflection
Starting the fast with intention is like starting a sacred journey. You’re not just refraining from food — you are walking a path toward taqwa, toward the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. The duʿāʾ you say before your fast is your compass, your spiritual declaration that today — and every day of Ramadan — is for Allah alone. Fasting is a divine gift, and its reward is immense. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Every action of the son of Adam is multiplied — a good deed by ten up to seven hundred times. Allah says: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me, and I will reward it.'”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1904, Sahih Muslim 1151
As we go through each day of Ramadan, let us renew our niyyah each morning, sincerely utter our duʿāʾ to start the fast, and strive to please Allah ﷻ in every moment of hunger, patience, and worship.
May Allah ﷻ accept our fasts, our duʿāʾs, and our deeds. Ameen.
Read more: Dua After Tashahud