Viral 'Mokel' Phenomenon During Ramadan: What It Is and Its Ruling in Islam
The term 'mokel' has once again become a trending topic on Google search since Thursday morning, 19 February 2026. The term is already familiar to Indonesians, particularly as the month of Ramadan approaches.
So what exactly is mokel? The word is commonly used to describe someone who breaks their fast before the time for breaking fast arrives — whether by eating, drinking, or engaging in other acts that invalidate the fast.
Linguistically, the word 'mokel' originates from Javanese. In its original context, the term refers to the act of eating or drinking outside of the proper time, or doing so secretly.
**The Islamic Ruling on Mokel**
Regarding the deliberate breaking of the fast, or mokel, the prominent Islamic scholar Buya Yahya has spoken out. He explained that such an act cannot be justified and constitutes a grave sin.
"Such behaviour cannot be justified. Missing even one day of fasting during Ramadan is a grave sin," said Buya Yahya, as quoted from his YouTube channel on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Buya Yahya further explained that there are only nine categories of people who are permitted not to fast during Ramadan: children who have not yet reached puberty, those who have lost their mental faculties, the ill, the elderly, travellers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, menstruating women, and women in the post-natal bleeding period (nifas).
"What we must understand is that none of us should abandon fasting during Ramadan without a valid reason. As for valid reasons, there are nine — if you are ill, a child, mentally incapacitated, pregnant, breastfeeding, and so on, then you are permitted not to fast," he said.
For those who have committed mokel during Ramadan, Buya Yahya advises seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT. Thereafter, one must continue observing the Ramadan fast and make up the missed fasting days outside of Ramadan.
"However, if one abandons the fast without a valid reason, it is a grave sin. The recourse is to repent, and if one repents, Allah will forgive. As for subsequent fasting, it will be accepted," Buya Yahya explained.
So what exactly is mokel? The word is commonly used to describe someone who breaks their fast before the time for breaking fast arrives — whether by eating, drinking, or engaging in other acts that invalidate the fast.
Linguistically, the word 'mokel' originates from Javanese. In its original context, the term refers to the act of eating or drinking outside of the proper time, or doing so secretly.
**The Islamic Ruling on Mokel**
Regarding the deliberate breaking of the fast, or mokel, the prominent Islamic scholar Buya Yahya has spoken out. He explained that such an act cannot be justified and constitutes a grave sin.
"Such behaviour cannot be justified. Missing even one day of fasting during Ramadan is a grave sin," said Buya Yahya, as quoted from his YouTube channel on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Buya Yahya further explained that there are only nine categories of people who are permitted not to fast during Ramadan: children who have not yet reached puberty, those who have lost their mental faculties, the ill, the elderly, travellers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, menstruating women, and women in the post-natal bleeding period (nifas).
"What we must understand is that none of us should abandon fasting during Ramadan without a valid reason. As for valid reasons, there are nine — if you are ill, a child, mentally incapacitated, pregnant, breastfeeding, and so on, then you are permitted not to fast," he said.
For those who have committed mokel during Ramadan, Buya Yahya advises seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT. Thereafter, one must continue observing the Ramadan fast and make up the missed fasting days outside of Ramadan.
"However, if one abandons the fast without a valid reason, it is a grave sin. The recourse is to repent, and if one repents, Allah will forgive. As for subsequent fasting, it will be accepted," Buya Yahya explained.