Things that Break and unbreak the Fast -part1
Apart from menstruation and postnatal bleeding, other things which break the fast are only considered
to do so if the following three conditions apply:
1) If a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant;
2) If he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting;
3) If he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it.
Among the things that break the fast are actions that involve the expulsion of bodily fluids,
such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping; and actions that involve ingesting matter,
such as eating and drinking.[Majmoo’ al‐Fataawaa, 25/148.]
Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking,
such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions.
‐ Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as
penicillin and insulin, tonics, or vaccinations do not break the fast regardless of whether they are
intramuscular or intravenous.But as a precaution, all these injections should be given during the night.
[Fataawaa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189]
‐ Kidney dialysis, whereby the blood is taken out, cleaned, and put back with some chemicals or
nourishing substances such as sugars and salts added, is considered to break the fast.
[Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/190]
‐ According to the most correct view, suppositories, eye‐drops, ear‐drops, having a tooth extracted
and treating wounds do not break the fast.[Majmoo’ Fataawaa Shaykh al‐Islam, 25/233, 25/245.]
‐ Inhalators used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to
the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadan and others.
‐ Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is
needed.[82 Fataawaa al‐Da’wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979.]
‐ Medicines used by gargling do not break the fast so long as they are not swallowed. If a person has a tooth
filled and feels the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast.[From the Fataawaa of Shaykh ‘Abd al‐‘Azeez ibn Baaz, issued verbally.]
The following things do NOT break the fast:
‐ Having the ears syringed, nose drops and nasal sprays – so long as one avoids swallowing anything
that reaches the throat.
‐ Tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat angina and other conditions ‐ so long as one
avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Anything inserted into the vagina, such as pessaries, douches, scopes or fingers for the purpose
of a medical examination.
‐ Insertion of a scope or intra‐uterine device (IUD or “coil”) and the like into the uterus.
‐ Insertion into the urethra – for males or females – of a catheter, opaque dye for diagnostic imaging,
medication or solutions for cleansing the bladder.
‐ Dental fillings, tooth extractions, cleaning of the teeth, use of siwaak or toothbrush
‐ so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Rinsing, gargling or applying topical mouth sprays
‐ so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections
– except for those used to provide nourishment.
‐ Oxygen.
‐ Anesthetic gases – so long as the patient is not given nourishing solutions.
‐ Medications absorbed through the skin, such as creams and patches used to administer medicine
and chemicals.
‐ Insertion of a catheter into veins for diagnostic imaging or treatment of blood vessels in the heart
or other organs.
‐ Use of a laparoscope (instrument inserted through a small incision in the abdomen) to examine
the abdominal cavity or to perform operations.
‐ Taking biopsies or samples from the liver or other organs – so long as this is not accompanied by
the administration of solutions.
‐ Gastroscopy – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions or other
substances.
‐ Introduction of any instrument or medication to the brain or spinal column.
Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadan with no valid excuse has
committed a kabeerah (grave major sin) and has to repent and make up for that fast later on.
If he broke the fast with something haraam, such as drinking alcohol, this makes his sin even worse.
Whatever the case, he has to repent sincerely and do more voluntary deeds, fasting and other acts of
worship so as to avoid having any shortfall in his record of obligatory deeds, and so that Allaah might
accept his repentance.
“If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allaah has fed him and given him to drink.”
According to another report,
“He does not have to make the fast up later or offer expiation (kaffaarah).”
If a person sees someone else who is eating because he has forgotten that he is fasting,
he should remind him, because of the general meaning of the aayah:
“Help one another in righteousness and piety.” [Surah al‐Maa`idah 5:2]
…and the hadeeth,
“If I forget, remind me.”[Al‐Bukhaari.]
…and that is because of the principle that this is a munkar (evil action) that must be changed.
[Majaalis Shahr Ramadaan, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p.70.]
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger may do so,
but they should make it up later. This applies in cases where someone is drowning,
or when fires need to be put out.
If a person is obliged to fast but deliberately has intercourse during the day in Ramadan of his own
free will, and where the two “circumcised parts” (genitals) come together and the head of the penis
penetrates either the front or back passage, his fast is broken whether or not he ejaculates, and he
must repent. He should still fast for the rest of the day, but he must make up the fast later on and
offer expiation (kaffaarah). In a hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah:
“Whilst we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), .
a man came to him and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, I am doomed!’ He said, ‘What is the matter with
you?’ He said, ‘I had intercourse with my wife whilst I was fasting.’ The Messenger of Allaah said,
‘Do you have a slave whom you could set free?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Can you fast for two
consecutive months?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you have the wherewithal to feed sixty poor people?’ He said, ‘No’…”
[Reported by al‐Bukhaari, al‐Fat’h, 4, no. 1936.]
The same ruling also applies in cases of zinaa (adultery or fornication), homosexuality and bestiality.
[Translator’s Note: Having Intercourse from the back passage, adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality
are major sins in Islam and are [even more] magnified if done during the day of Ramadhan.]
If a person has intercourse during the day on more than one day in Ramadan, he must offer expiation
for each day as well as repeating the fast for each day. Not knowing that kaffaarah (expiation) is
obligatory is no excuse. [Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/321.]
If a man wants to have intercourse with his wife but he breaks his fast by eating first,
his sin is more serious, because he has violated the sanctity of the month on two counts,
by eating and by having intercourse. It is even more certain in this case that expiation is obligatory,
and if he tries to get out of it, that only makes matters worse. He must repent sincerely.
[See Majmoo’ al‐Fataawaa, 25/262.]
Kissing, hugging, embracing, touching and repeatedly looking at one’s wife or concubine,
if a man is able to control himself, is permissible, because it is reported in Bukhari and Muslim from
‘Aa`ishah () that the Prophet () used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting,
but he was the most in control of his desire. With regard to the hadeeth qudsi,
“He keeps away from his wife for My (Allah’s) sake.”
[Al‐Mundhiri, “Al‐Targheeb w’al‐Tarheeb”. Al‐Albani declared it as Saheeh. (Editor)]
…this is referring to intercourse. But if a person becomes aroused quickly and is unable to control
himself, then it is not permissible for him to kiss or embrace his wife, because that will lead to him
breaking his fast, as hecannot be sure that he will be able to avoid ejaculating or having intercourse.
Allaah says in a hadeeth qudsi:
“…and he leaves his desire for My (Allah’s) sake.”
[Al‐Bukhaari. (Editor)]
The Islamic guideline is that anything that leads to haraam is also haraam.
If a person is engaged in the act of intercourse and dawn appears, he is obliged to withdraw.
His fast will be valid even if he ejaculates after withdrawal, but if he continues having intercourse
until after dawn, he has broken his fast and must repent, make the fast up later, and offer expiation.
If morning comes and a person is in a state of janaabah (impurity following sexual intercourse),
this does not affect his fasting. He or she is permitted to delay doing ghusl ‐ whether it is for janaabah,
following menstruation, or post‐natal bleeding ‐ until dawn has appeared (though well before sunrise)
but it is better to hasten to do ghusl so that one can pray.
If a person who is fasting sleeps and experiences a wet dream, this does not break his fast according
to scholarly consensus (ijmaa’). The person should complete his fast. Delaying doing ghusl
(until after dawn has appeared but well before sunrise) does not break the fast, but he should hasten
to do ghusl so that he can pray and so that the angels will draw close to him.
If a person ejaculates during the day in Ramadan because of something that he could have refrained
from, such as touching or repeatedly looking at a woman, he must repent to Allaah and fast for the
rest of the day and must make up that fast later. If a person starts to masturbate but then stops and
does not ejaculate, he must repent, but he does not have to make the fast up later on because he did
not ejaculate. The person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his desire,
and he must repel any bad thoughts that come to him.
However, according to the most correct opinion, if he emits madhiy (pre‐seminal fluid), this does not break his fast.
The emission of wadiy (prostatic fluid), a thick sticky substance that comes out after urination with no
sense of physical pleasure, does not break the fast. The person does not have to do ghusl,
but he does have to do istinjaa´ (clean his private parts with water) and wudoo´.[Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/279.]
“Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on,
but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast.”
[Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al‐Tirmidhi, 3/89]
A person who vomits deliberately by inserting his finger into his throat, applying pressure to his
stomach, deliberately smelling a repulsive odor, or looking at something that could make him vomit
is obliged to make up the fast later on. If he feels that he is about to vomit but then it subsides by
itself, this does not break his fast because it is not something that he can control. If the vomit though,
comes into his mouth and he swallows it back down, this does break the fast. If a person feels sick in
his stomach, he does not have to suppress the urge to vomit, because this could cause him harm.
[Majaalis Sharh Ramadaan, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 67.]
If a person unintentionally swallows something that is stuck between his teeth, or if it is so small that
he could not tell it was there or spit it out, this is counted as being part of his saliva and it does not
break his fast. But if it is big enough to spit out, he should do so. If he spits it out, this is fine, but if
he swallows it, this breaks his fast. If it can be diluted in the mouth, in whole or in part, and it has an
added taste or sweetness, it is haraam for him to chew it. If any of this substance reaches the throat,
this breaks the fast. If a person spits out water after rinsing his mouth, his fast is not affected by any
moisture or wetness that is left behind, because he cannot help it.
to do so if the following three conditions apply:
1) If a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant;
2) If he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting;
3) If he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it.
Among the things that break the fast are actions that involve the expulsion of bodily fluids,
such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping; and actions that involve ingesting matter,
such as eating and drinking.[Majmoo’ al‐Fataawaa, 25/148.]
Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking,
such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions.
‐ Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as
penicillin and insulin, tonics, or vaccinations do not break the fast regardless of whether they are
intramuscular or intravenous.But as a precaution, all these injections should be given during the night.
[Fataawaa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189]
‐ Kidney dialysis, whereby the blood is taken out, cleaned, and put back with some chemicals or
nourishing substances such as sugars and salts added, is considered to break the fast.
[Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/190]
‐ According to the most correct view, suppositories, eye‐drops, ear‐drops, having a tooth extracted
and treating wounds do not break the fast.[Majmoo’ Fataawaa Shaykh al‐Islam, 25/233, 25/245.]
‐ Inhalators used for asthma do not break the fast, because this is just compressed gas that goes to
the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadan and others.
‐ Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is
needed.[82 Fataawaa al‐Da’wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979.]
‐ Medicines used by gargling do not break the fast so long as they are not swallowed. If a person has a tooth
filled and feels the taste of it in his throat, this does not break his fast.[From the Fataawaa of Shaykh ‘Abd al‐‘Azeez ibn Baaz, issued verbally.]
The following things do NOT break the fast:
‐ Having the ears syringed, nose drops and nasal sprays – so long as one avoids swallowing anything
that reaches the throat.
‐ Tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat angina and other conditions ‐ so long as one
avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Anything inserted into the vagina, such as pessaries, douches, scopes or fingers for the purpose
of a medical examination.
‐ Insertion of a scope or intra‐uterine device (IUD or “coil”) and the like into the uterus.
‐ Insertion into the urethra – for males or females – of a catheter, opaque dye for diagnostic imaging,
medication or solutions for cleansing the bladder.
‐ Dental fillings, tooth extractions, cleaning of the teeth, use of siwaak or toothbrush
‐ so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Rinsing, gargling or applying topical mouth sprays
‐ so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
‐ Subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections
– except for those used to provide nourishment.
‐ Oxygen.
‐ Anesthetic gases – so long as the patient is not given nourishing solutions.
‐ Medications absorbed through the skin, such as creams and patches used to administer medicine
and chemicals.
‐ Insertion of a catheter into veins for diagnostic imaging or treatment of blood vessels in the heart
or other organs.
‐ Use of a laparoscope (instrument inserted through a small incision in the abdomen) to examine
the abdominal cavity or to perform operations.
‐ Taking biopsies or samples from the liver or other organs – so long as this is not accompanied by
the administration of solutions.
‐ Gastroscopy – so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of solutions or other
substances.
‐ Introduction of any instrument or medication to the brain or spinal column.
Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadan with no valid excuse has
committed a kabeerah (grave major sin) and has to repent and make up for that fast later on.
If he broke the fast with something haraam, such as drinking alcohol, this makes his sin even worse.
Whatever the case, he has to repent sincerely and do more voluntary deeds, fasting and other acts of
worship so as to avoid having any shortfall in his record of obligatory deeds, and so that Allaah might
accept his repentance.
“If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allaah has fed him and given him to drink.”
According to another report,
“He does not have to make the fast up later or offer expiation (kaffaarah).”
If a person sees someone else who is eating because he has forgotten that he is fasting,
he should remind him, because of the general meaning of the aayah:
“Help one another in righteousness and piety.” [Surah al‐Maa`idah 5:2]
…and the hadeeth,
“If I forget, remind me.”[Al‐Bukhaari.]
…and that is because of the principle that this is a munkar (evil action) that must be changed.
[Majaalis Shahr Ramadaan, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p.70.]
Those who need to break their fast in order to save someone whose life is in danger may do so,
but they should make it up later. This applies in cases where someone is drowning,
or when fires need to be put out.
If a person is obliged to fast but deliberately has intercourse during the day in Ramadan of his own
free will, and where the two “circumcised parts” (genitals) come together and the head of the penis
penetrates either the front or back passage, his fast is broken whether or not he ejaculates, and he
must repent. He should still fast for the rest of the day, but he must make up the fast later on and
offer expiation (kaffaarah). In a hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah:
“Whilst we were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), .
a man came to him and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, I am doomed!’ He said, ‘What is the matter with
you?’ He said, ‘I had intercourse with my wife whilst I was fasting.’ The Messenger of Allaah said,
‘Do you have a slave whom you could set free?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Can you fast for two
consecutive months?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you have the wherewithal to feed sixty poor people?’ He said, ‘No’…”
[Reported by al‐Bukhaari, al‐Fat’h, 4, no. 1936.]
The same ruling also applies in cases of zinaa (adultery or fornication), homosexuality and bestiality.
[Translator’s Note: Having Intercourse from the back passage, adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality
are major sins in Islam and are [even more] magnified if done during the day of Ramadhan.]
If a person has intercourse during the day on more than one day in Ramadan, he must offer expiation
for each day as well as repeating the fast for each day. Not knowing that kaffaarah (expiation) is
obligatory is no excuse. [Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/321.]
If a man wants to have intercourse with his wife but he breaks his fast by eating first,
his sin is more serious, because he has violated the sanctity of the month on two counts,
by eating and by having intercourse. It is even more certain in this case that expiation is obligatory,
and if he tries to get out of it, that only makes matters worse. He must repent sincerely.
[See Majmoo’ al‐Fataawaa, 25/262.]
Kissing, hugging, embracing, touching and repeatedly looking at one’s wife or concubine,
if a man is able to control himself, is permissible, because it is reported in Bukhari and Muslim from
‘Aa`ishah () that the Prophet () used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting,
but he was the most in control of his desire. With regard to the hadeeth qudsi,
“He keeps away from his wife for My (Allah’s) sake.”
[Al‐Mundhiri, “Al‐Targheeb w’al‐Tarheeb”. Al‐Albani declared it as Saheeh. (Editor)]
…this is referring to intercourse. But if a person becomes aroused quickly and is unable to control
himself, then it is not permissible for him to kiss or embrace his wife, because that will lead to him
breaking his fast, as hecannot be sure that he will be able to avoid ejaculating or having intercourse.
Allaah says in a hadeeth qudsi:
“…and he leaves his desire for My (Allah’s) sake.”
[Al‐Bukhaari. (Editor)]
The Islamic guideline is that anything that leads to haraam is also haraam.
If a person is engaged in the act of intercourse and dawn appears, he is obliged to withdraw.
His fast will be valid even if he ejaculates after withdrawal, but if he continues having intercourse
until after dawn, he has broken his fast and must repent, make the fast up later, and offer expiation.
If morning comes and a person is in a state of janaabah (impurity following sexual intercourse),
this does not affect his fasting. He or she is permitted to delay doing ghusl ‐ whether it is for janaabah,
following menstruation, or post‐natal bleeding ‐ until dawn has appeared (though well before sunrise)
but it is better to hasten to do ghusl so that one can pray.
If a person who is fasting sleeps and experiences a wet dream, this does not break his fast according
to scholarly consensus (ijmaa’). The person should complete his fast. Delaying doing ghusl
(until after dawn has appeared but well before sunrise) does not break the fast, but he should hasten
to do ghusl so that he can pray and so that the angels will draw close to him.
If a person ejaculates during the day in Ramadan because of something that he could have refrained
from, such as touching or repeatedly looking at a woman, he must repent to Allaah and fast for the
rest of the day and must make up that fast later. If a person starts to masturbate but then stops and
does not ejaculate, he must repent, but he does not have to make the fast up later on because he did
not ejaculate. The person who is fasting must keep away from everything that may provoke his desire,
and he must repel any bad thoughts that come to him.
However, according to the most correct opinion, if he emits madhiy (pre‐seminal fluid), this does not break his fast.
The emission of wadiy (prostatic fluid), a thick sticky substance that comes out after urination with no
sense of physical pleasure, does not break the fast. The person does not have to do ghusl,
but he does have to do istinjaa´ (clean his private parts with water) and wudoo´.[Fataawaa al‐Lajnah al‐Daa`imah, 10/279.]
“Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on,
but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast.”
[Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al‐Tirmidhi, 3/89]
A person who vomits deliberately by inserting his finger into his throat, applying pressure to his
stomach, deliberately smelling a repulsive odor, or looking at something that could make him vomit
is obliged to make up the fast later on. If he feels that he is about to vomit but then it subsides by
itself, this does not break his fast because it is not something that he can control. If the vomit though,
comes into his mouth and he swallows it back down, this does break the fast. If a person feels sick in
his stomach, he does not have to suppress the urge to vomit, because this could cause him harm.
[Majaalis Sharh Ramadaan, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 67.]
If a person unintentionally swallows something that is stuck between his teeth, or if it is so small that
he could not tell it was there or spit it out, this is counted as being part of his saliva and it does not
break his fast. But if it is big enough to spit out, he should do so. If he spits it out, this is fine, but if
he swallows it, this breaks his fast. If it can be diluted in the mouth, in whole or in part, and it has an
added taste or sweetness, it is haraam for him to chew it. If any of this substance reaches the throat,
this breaks the fast. If a person spits out water after rinsing his mouth, his fast is not affected by any
moisture or wetness that is left behind, because he cannot help it.
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