Can I drink coffee or tea while fasting in Ramadan?
Answered with evidence from the Quran and authentic Hadith
Quick Answer
No — drinking anything, including coffee and tea, breaks your fast during fasting hours (dawn to sunset). You may drink coffee or tea freely at suhoor (before Fajr) and at iftar (after Maghrib). Many people drink strong coffee at suhoor to manage caffeine withdrawal during the day.
Detailed Answer
The fast in Ramadan requires complete abstention from food and drink — including water — from dawn (Fajr adhan) until sunset (Maghrib adhan). Coffee, tea, and any other beverage all break the fast in exactly the same way water does. There is no exemption for liquids.
Coffee and tea at suhoor and iftar are completely permissible and even recommended for those who depend on caffeine. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged eating suhoor and breaking the fast promptly at sunset — coffee and tea fit naturally into both meals.
Managing caffeine withdrawal during fasting: (1) Gradually reduce caffeine intake in the week before Ramadan. (2) Have a moderate amount of coffee or tea at suhoor — not so much that you cannot sleep, but enough to ease morning withdrawal. (3) Drink plenty of water between iftar and Fajr to stay hydrated. (4) Avoid heavy caffeine immediately at iftar on an empty stomach — start with dates and water, then have coffee with your meal.
Edge cases: rinsing your mouth or gargling does not break the fast as long as you do not swallow. Smelling coffee aroma is fine. Tasting food briefly with the tip of the tongue (for cooking) is disliked but does not break the fast as long as nothing is swallowed.
Evidence from Quran & Hadith
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ
Wa kuloo washraboo hatta yatabayyana lakumul-khaytul-abyadu minal-khaytil-aswadi minal-fajr. Thumma atimmus-siyama ilal-layl.
“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread (of night). Then complete the fast until night.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah (blessing)."
Key Points
- ✦The fast in Ramadan requires complete abstention from food and drink — including water — from dawn (Fajr adhan) until sunset (Maghrib adhan).
- ✦Coffee and tea at suhoor and iftar are completely permissible and even recommended for those who depend on caffeine.
- ✦Managing caffeine withdrawal during fasting: (1) Gradually reduce caffeine intake in the week before Ramadan.
- ✦Edge cases: rinsing your mouth or gargling does not break the fast as long as you do not swallow.
Related Questions
Can you drink water during Ramadan?
No. During fasting hours (from dawn to sunset), Muslims abstain from all food and drink, including water. You can eat and drink before dawn (suhoor) and after sunset (iftar).
What breaks your fast in Islam?
Your fast is broken by: eating or drinking intentionally, smoking, intimate relations, intentional vomiting, and menstruation. Accidentally eating/drinking, swallowing saliva, using a miswak, or getting an injection does NOT break your fast.
Can you fast while pregnant or breastfeeding?
If fasting would harm the mother or baby, she is permitted to break her fast and make up the days later. Most scholars agree that the health of the mother and child takes priority, and a pregnant or breastfeeding woman should consult her doctor.
I accidentally ate while fasting — is my fast broken?
No. If you genuinely forgot you were fasting and ate or drank, your fast is still valid. Simply stop eating as soon as you remember and continue your fast. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said Allah fed you and gave you drink.
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Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-13- QuranSurah Al-Baqarah — fast from dawn to night.— Quran 2:187 (Sahih International)
- HadithThere is barakah in suhoor.— Sahih al-Bukhari 1923, Sahih Muslim 1095
Quran translations are for meaning and may vary by scholar. Hadith references follow the canonical numbering of their respective collections. For rulings on your specific situation, consult a qualified Islamic scholar. Learn how we verify content.
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Note: This answer is based on the Quran and authentic Hadith for general guidance. For detailed rulings on your specific situation, please consult a qualified Islamic scholar. May Allah guide us all to the truth.