Fast Breaking Acts

Fast breaking acts do not break the fast in case of forgetfulness, ignorance, or compulsion according to Allah’s saying “O' Allah! Do not punish us if we forget or fall into error” and His saying, “Except who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with faith”. And His saying, “And there is sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake except in regard to what your heart deliberately intend.” (Al-Ahzab: Verse 5)

If the person fasting forgot when eating or drinking his fast wouldn’t be broken due to forgetfulness and if one eats or drinks thinking that the sun has set or the day hasn’t broken, one’s fast is still valid due to ignorance. And if one rinses his mouth letting water go inside his throat by mistake, such rinsing will not break his fast because it is not done intentionally.

Wet dreaming during sleep does not break the fast because it is not intentional.

Nullifiers of Fasting

Sexual intercourse. If it is committed by the faster during the daytime in the month of Ramadhan. He must make –up the fast besides a hard binding atonement, that is, emancipating a slave, but if it is not possible he must fast two consecutive months and when is able to do so he must feed sixty indigents (i.e. sixty meals).

Seminal ejaculation while awake by masturbation or fondling or hugging and the like.

Eating or drinking whether beneficial or harmful, including smoking.

The use of nutritive injections that substitute for food, but the use of injections that won’t nourish the body don’t break the fast whether taken In the muscles or in the vein even if he tastes the nutrient in his throat.

Blood transfusion when blood loss occurs to the faster. Blood may be transfused into his body instead in place of the blood that he lost.

The blood that comes out from a woman due to post-natal bleeding or menses.

Forcing out one’s blood by cupping or the like. But unlike cupping, involuntary bleeding such as nose bleeding or when pulling out teeth and he like would not break the fast.

Vomiting when intentionally done. But if it is not done on purpose the fast won’t be broken.

Apostasy. If a Muslim who is fasting becomes a disbeliever, then their fasting becomes void, as Allah Most High says: “If you commit shirk (associate others in worship with Allah), then surely (all) your deeds will be in vain…”

Useful Lessons

It is permissible for the Muslim to have the intention of fasting in mind while ritually impure. He should wash himself thoroughly after daybreak.

The woman menstruating or suffering from bleeding after childbirth must fast if she becomes pure (stops bleeding) before Fajr even if she has not bathed before Fajr.

A faster can pull out his tooth and treat his wounds and drop medicine in his eyes or in his ears without having broken his fast even it he tastes it in his throat.

A faster can use his tooth stick in the early or late daytime, which is legal and preferable for both the faster and non-faster.

A faster is permitted to do things that may reduce strong heat or thirst such as the use of water or air conditioner to cool him down.

A faster may use inhalers that may reduce his labored breathing due to asthma or other reasons.

A faster can wet his lips when dry, and rinse his mouth when dried out without gurgling, or swallowing.
It is favorable for the faster to delay eating “Suhoor” (the morning meal) until shortly before day break and to break the fast soon after sunset. It is preferable to eat, if accessible, fresh dates or drink water or any legal food; and if all the above are unavailable, one should have had the intention of breaking his fast in mind until he finds something to eat.

Controversial Issues

The Muslim scholars have differed regarding certain issues pertaining to fasting that have not been addressed thus far.

What must a person who does one of the things that nullify fasting, such as eating or drinking do, believing the break of dawn has not commenced, or the sun has set when they have actually taken place? The Imaams of the four schools of thought (may Allah have mercy on them) are all of the opinion the day must be compensated for by fasting another day after Ramadan.

The correct opinion (and Allah knows best) is the day needs not be made up as per the verdict of Ishaaq ibn Raahawih, ‘Urwah, Al-Hasan Al- Basri, Maajid, Daawud, ibn Hazm, ibn Taymiyyah, and others, may Allah have mercy on them. Their proof is the people during the Khilaafah of ‘Umar (r.a) broke their fast, some moments later, the sun appeared. The people asked whether they should make up this day, at which ‘Umar (r.a) responded by saying: “No, by Allah, we did not have any inclination towards a wrongful action.”9 In addition there is the hadith found in Saheeh Bukhari where Asmaa’ (r.a) said: “We broke our fast on a cloudy day during Ramadan at the time of the Messenger of Allah , then the sun appeared.”

Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah shower him with his mercy) said: “This suggests two things: firstly, it suggests that it is not recommended to delay the fasting despite the clouds until one is certain about the sunset… Secondly, it is not obligatory to make up the day, for if the Prophet had ordered them to make up that day, this would have been widely known, just as the news of the breaking of their fast was widely circulated. Hence, since we do not have any mentioning they were ordered to compensate for that day, the ruling is he did not command them to do so.

From amongst the things the scholars differed about also is the use of nose drops, ear drops, eye drops, intravenous injections, and eye liner. A group of scholars ruled these are from amongst the nullifiers of fasting, and a person who uses any one of these must make up for that day. The correct opinion (and Allah knows best) is these things do not nullify fasting, and no compensation is required. This verdict was derived at by Abu Hanifah, Shaafi, Daawud, ibn Al-Munzir, ‘Ataa, Al- Hasan Al-Basri, An-Nakha‘i, Al- Awzaa‘i, Abi Athawr, and from amongst the companions, ibn ‘Umar, and Anas ibn Maalik. Tirmidhi said, “there is nothing authentically mentioned by the Prophet about this.” Ibn Taymiyyah gave the same ruling regarding this.

Water entering into the stomach as a result of sniffing or rinsing out of the mouth has also caused controversy amongst scholars. The correct opinion is the fasting is not broken, as this has occurred as an unintentional mistake. This is the ruling adopted by Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaaq, Abu Thawr, and it is also the opinion of sheikh Al-Qaradaawi and others. With regards to sniffing water, known as istinshaaq (douching), The Messenger of Allah said: “Exaggerate while performing istinshaaq, except when you are fasting.” This means that this action is considered as mukrooh (undesirable) when fasting.

Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, according to a number of scholars. This is because it is considered as compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadan and other times.

Apart from what has been mentioned so far under the different factors nullifying fasting everything else a person does while fasting is either mubaah (allowable), or it is from the things that are pardoned, and Allah the Exalted knows best.