Lessons

Ramadan & Fasting

Fasting when your family is not Muslim

Learn how to uphold your fasts while showing gentle kindness and love to non-Muslim relatives.

2 short lessons · about 2 min · every point has its source

1. Honoring parents while protecting your worship

When you embrace Islam, family life can feel delicate, especially around fasting. Allah commands believers to show goodness to their parents.¹ The Prophet ﷺ also taught that being kind to parents is among the very best deeds.²

Sometimes non-Muslim parents worry about your well-being or feel confused by fasting. They might ask you to break your fast or give up your worship. Allah teaches that if parents urge you to associate partners with Him, you must not obey them.¹ The Prophet ﷺ made clear that obedience is required only in what is good, with no obedience in wrongdoing.³ You can protect your fast firmly while staying calm and polite.

Refusing a request to compromise your faith does not mean turning away from your parents. Allah instructs believers to accompany their parents in this world with appropriate kindness.⁴ When a companion asked the Prophet ﷺ whether she should maintain ties with her mother who was not a believer, he told her to keep good relations with her.⁵ Reassure your parents with gentle words and helpful actions, showing them that devotion to Allah only deepens your love for them.

2. Keeping close family ties during Ramadan

Ramadan is a blessed season of devotion, yet it is not a reason to pull away from your relatives. Believing in Allah and the Last Day calls for keeping the bonds of kinship strong.⁶ The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever desires an increase in their lifespan and provision should maintain good relations with family.⁷

New Muslims in the early community also wondered how to care for relatives who did not share their faith. When a companion named Asma bint Abu Bakr asked the Prophet ﷺ about maintaining ties with her non-Muslim mother, he instructed her to keep good relations with her.⁵

The Arabic word for the womb, rahm, comes from Ar-Rahman, which is one of the names of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ shared that Allah keeps close ties with the person who upholds family ties.⁸

Navigating mealtimes together can be done with gentleness and grace. You can sit with your family during their regular dinners, share warm conversation, or help cook for them. A believer in Allah and the Last Day should speak good words or stay silent, treat guests generously, and keep good ties with family.⁶

Sources

1. Quran 29:8 (Al-'Ankabut)
   And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do
2. Sahih Muslim 85e Read it in full
   It is reported on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah observed: The best of' the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents
3. Sahih al-Bukhari 7257 Read it in full
   Narrated `Ali: The Prophet (ﷺ) , sent an army and appointed some man their commander The man made a fire and then said (to the soldiers), "Enter it." Some of them intended to enter it while some others said, 'We have run away from it (i.e., embraced Islam to save ourselves from the 'fire')." They mentioned that to the Prophet, and he said about people who had intended to enter the fire. ''If they had entered it, they would have remained In it till the Day of Resurrection.'' Then he said to others, "No obedience for evil deeds, obedience is required only in what is good
4. Quran 31:15 (Luqman)
   But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do
5. Sahih al-Bukhari 2620 Read it in full
   Narrated Asma' bint Abu Bakr: My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and she was a pagan. I said to Allah's Apostle (seeking his verdict), "My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Yes, keep good relation with her
6. Sahih al-Bukhari 6138 Read it in full
   Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of kinship (i.e. keep good relation with his kith and kin); and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet
7. Sahih al-Bukhari 2067 Read it in full
   Narrated Anas bin Malik: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "whoever desires an expansion in his sustenance and age, should keep good relations with his Kith and kin
8. Sahih al-Bukhari 5988 Read it in full
   Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The word 'Ar-Rahm (womb) derives its name from Ar-Rahman (i.e., one of the names of Allah) and Allah said: 'I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you, (womb i.e. Kith and Kin) and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you, (womb, i.e. Kith and Kin)

Every point in this lesson rests on a verse of the Quran or a hadith, listed above. Hadith come from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, or from other collections only where every listed scholar graded them sahih or hasan. Found a mistake? Tell us.

More on ramadan & fasting

• A day of fasting, from suhoor to iftarLearn how to begin, guard, and break your daily fast with confidence.
• A practice fast before RamadanLearn how and when to try voluntary fasts to prepare your heart and body for Ramadan.
• If you cannot fast: illness, travel and other reasonsLearn Allah's allowances for missed fasts, feeding substitutes, and how to make up days.
• The nights of Ramadan and Laylat al-QadrDiscover the blessings of Ramadan night prayers and how to seek the special Night of Decree.