Ramadan 1447 AH is expected to begin around Wednesday 18 February 2026, depending on the moon sighting in your country, with Eid al-Fitr expected around 20 March. With the month just a week away, now is the time to prepare your body as well as your heart. A little planning makes the fasts easier and helps you get the most from the month spiritually.
This week: ease into it
- Cut caffeine gradually to avoid withdrawal headaches in the first days.
- Try a voluntary fast on Monday or Thursday, following the Sunnah, to test your routine.
- Move your bedtime earlier so waking for suhoor feels less of a shock.
- Plan simple meals and batch-cook soups, lentils and stews for the first week.
Building a better suhoor
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Take suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing” (al-Bukhari and Muslim). Choose slow-release foods that keep you full: oats, wholegrain bread, eggs, yoghurt, beans, fruit and a little healthy fat. Drink two or three glasses of water, and go easy on salty foods, which increase thirst.
A gentle iftar
Break your fast with dates and water, as the Prophet ﷺ did, then pray Maghrib before the main meal. This gives your body time to adjust. Fill half the plate with vegetables or salad, a quarter with protein and a quarter with rice or bread. Keep fried foods and sweets for occasional treats rather than every night.
Hydration between iftar and suhoor
Spread water out across the evening instead of drinking a lot at once. Soups, watermelon, cucumber and yoghurt all help. Sugary drinks and strong tea or coffee can make thirst worse the next day.
Fasting with diabetes or other conditions
The International Diabetes Federation and the Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance recommend that everyone with diabetes has a pre-Ramadan check-up. Doctors use a risk score to classify people as low, moderate or high risk. People at high risk are advised not to fast, and medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas often need adjusting. The guidelines advise breaking the fast if blood glucose falls below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or rises above 300 mg/dL (16.6 mmol/L), or if you feel unwell. The same goes for pregnancy, kidney disease and other chronic conditions: speak to your doctor first. Islam exempts those for whom fasting would cause harm, and following that ruling is itself an act of worship.
Protect your sleep
Late nights for Taraweeh and early suhoor add up. A short nap after Dhuhr (qailulah, a Sunnah) can make a big difference to energy and mood.
May Allah accept your fasts and prayers. Ramadan Mubarak!
This article is general information, not medical or religious advice. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your own health, and to a qualified scholar about specific religious rulings.