Your Suhoor and Iftar time come straight from the prayer timetable: Suhoor ends at Fajr and Iftar starts at Maghrib.
In Ramadan, two moments run your whole day: when you must stop eating, and when you can finally break your fast. Both come straight from the prayer timetable — no guesswork needed once you know the rule. Here’s how Suhoor and Iftar times are set.
Suhoor and Iftar time: the quick answer
Suhoor ends at Fajr (true dawn) — that’s when the fast begins. Iftar starts at Maghrib (sunset) — that’s when you break it. So your Suhoor deadline is simply your Fajr time, and your Iftar time is your Maghrib time.
Suhoor: it ends at Fajr
The pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, can be eaten right up until Subh Sadiq (true dawn) — the same moment Fajr prayer begins. Because dawn is defined by a sun angle, your Suhoor deadline depends on your calculation method: a 15° Fajr gives a slightly later deadline than an 18° or 19.5° Fajr. For the dawn detail, see when does Fajr begin.
The safety margin: Many timetables print an “Imsak” time a few minutes (often 10) before Fajr. Imsak isn’t a separate ruling — it’s a cushion so you finish eating comfortably before true dawn rather than right on the line.
Iftar: it starts at Maghrib
You break your fast at Maghrib, the moment the sun fully sets below the horizon. Unlike Fajr and Isha, Maghrib doesn’t depend on a calculation method — sunset is sunset. That’s why Iftar times are the same across almost every app for a given location; the only differences come from tiny elevation or horizon adjustments.
The traditional practice is to break the fast promptly once Maghrib enters, often with dates and water.
A simple Ramadan day
| Moment | Tied to | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Suhoor deadline | Fajr (true dawn) | Stop eating; fast begins |
| Imsak (optional) | ~10 min before Fajr | Safety cushion |
| Iftar | Maghrib (sunset) | Break the fast |
Why accurate times matter more in Ramadan
Outside Ramadan, being a couple of minutes off on Fajr rarely changes your day. In Ramadan it decides when your fast starts and ends, so it’s worth setting your app to your local mosque’s method and location precisely. The underlying machinery is the same as any other day — see how prayer times are calculated.
Frequently asked questions
When does Suhoor end?
At Fajr (true dawn). Once Fajr enters, the fast has begun and eating stops.
What is Imsak?
A precautionary time a few minutes before Fajr, printed on many timetables so you finish Suhoor safely before dawn. It’s a cushion, not a separate obligation.
Why is Iftar the same in every app but Suhoor isn’t?
Iftar is at sunset, which doesn’t depend on a method. Suhoor ends at Fajr, which does depend on the Fajr angle your method uses.
Can I eat until the Fajr adhan?
The fast begins at true dawn, which the adhan marks. Many people stop a few minutes earlier (Imsak) to be safe.
For more background, see Suhur on Wikipedia.
Planning your Ramadan schedule? Use the free prayer times calculator to get your Fajr (Suhoor end) and Maghrib (Iftar) for any city.