Fasting is a salient feature of Islam. To openly eat and drink during the month of Ramadhaan is tantamount to showing disregard to the salient feature of Islam and is thus a major sin. ^[1]

If the one who does not fast and openly eats and drinks regards it as a sin, but does so due to weakness of Imaan, he will be guilty of commiting a major sin. However, he will not leave the fold of Islam. ^[2]

If he believes that there is no sin in what he is doing, then he has regarded this salient feature of Islam to be insignificant. This will therefore cause him to leave the fold of Islam. ^{See 1}

Kaffaarah for a Broken Fast

If one breaks his fast in the month of Ramadhaan without a valid excuse, he will be sinful due to committing a major sin. ^[3] The way for one to make taubah for this major sin is that one sincerely repents to Allah Ta‘ala for committing this major sin and makes a firm resolve that he will never repeat this sin in the future.