Does telling lies break your fast during Ramadan?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Fasting is a form of worship that is only known to Allaah since it consists of intention and giving up desires that are generally fulfilled privately. The main purpose for which fasting is legislated is to gain piety.

Allaah Says (what means): {O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)}[Quran 2:183]. Therefore, gaining Allaah's pleasure and achieving piety is not possible except when one abandons all kinds of sins such as lying, being unjust, etc. The Prophet said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, Allaah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]

Another Hadeeth reads: "Fasting does not mean leaving food and drink; rather, it means giving up nonsense and sexual matters." Besides, Jabir Ibn 'Abdullaah said: "Whenever you fast, your ears, eyes and tongue should fast from telling lies and from forbidden matters. You should avoid harming your neighbours and keep staidness and dignity while you are fasting. Do not make the day of your fasting similar to the day when you are not fasting.”

Therefore, whoever lies during his fast, he is only required to repent and seek forgiveness from what he did, and be determined not to do that again, but he is not obliged to make up for the day when he lied.

Allaah Knows best.