Fasting

Question: We are in Boden city in northern Sweden where the night in this place does not exceeds an hour and a half, that is from about 12am to 2am with the visibility of the redness of the sunrise is present, clear and polish and there is no evidence of darkness of the night, so we are in confusion in terms of the timings of the Maghrib, Isha’a and morning prayers. This is in terms of the timings, in terms of the month of Ramadhan, if it begins during these days, what will the fasting procedure be?

Answer: If the sunrise redness does not disappear at all, then Maghrib (sunset) is after the whole moon is covered completely and making sure of this is a must. The time for morning prayer is before the sunrise and one must fast the whole of this day with the ability to do so. If one falls in unbearable awkward situation, then breaking the fast is permissible and doing qatha (fasting the day later in the year) after that.

Question: If someone was forced to work and was required to drink water, either for necessity like the example of the pilot or due to the extreme heat in the weather. What is he/she to do in the hold month of ramadhan?

Answer: If the mentioned work during the month of ramadhan is necessary to secure his salary and leaving it will cause extreme hardship and awkwardness, then there is no harm in drinking a necessary amount of water and do qatha (fasting the day later in the year) of that day and there is no kaffara (a penance) to be paid by him.

Question: An aeroplane pilot is imposed, at the end of his working hours, to drink water in every while, what is the ruling of his fasting?

Answer: If the mentioned work during the month of ramadhan is necessary to secure his salary and leaving it will cause awkwardness, then there is no harm in drinking a necessary amount of water and do qadha (fasting the day later in the year) of that day and there is no kaffara (a penance) to be paid by him.

Question: Is it permissible to inject a needle and the nutrient during the state of fasting?

Answer: Injecting a medicine or other via a needle in a muscle or the jugular vein does not invalidate the fast. Similarly using liquid drops in the ear or the eye does not invalidate the fast even if it caused an appearance of colour or taste in the mouth. Also the fast is not invalidated by using the spray that facilitates the respiratory process if the substance goes in the wind wipe and not the food pipe.

Question: Is it permissible to use a Miswak (tooth stick) during the state of fasting?

Answer: It is permissible for a fasting person to use a tooth stick, but if the person took out the Miswak (tooth stick) form his/her mouth, he/she must not return it to ones mouth when it contains moisture except if the person spits out whatever is in the mouth from saliva, after returning it to the mouth, or the moisture that’s on the Miswak (tooth stick) vanishes in the saliva.

Question: Is it permissible for a fasting person to gargle with water and other.

Answer: It is permissible for a fasting person to gargle with water with the intention of wudhu (ablution), and for other reasons, only if he/she does not swallow any water deliberately, and he/she must spit out his/her saliva after the gargle three times.

Question: Am I allowed during the obligatory and recommended fasts to use tooth brush and tooth paste or is it from the things that invalidate the fast.

Answer: It is permissible only if nothing descends in the abdomen.

Question: Is there a harm on the validity of the fast in applying cosmetics on the body, and also the powder?

Answer: There is no harm

Question: I am suffering from physical weakness and poor health when fasting during the whole year and am unable to practice my daily work properly while fasting, and I stay in psychological constriction till the end of the month and I don’t have the Islamic ruling because I am an engineer and my work involves engineering projects.

Answer: It is not permissible to break the fast just for the weakness except if it harms you or causes an illness or unbearable awkwardness. But if working while fasting is the cause to that weakness, then one should change the working hours or reduce them or search for another job etc.

Question: A person is fasting and forgot that he is fasting, and asked from another person to provide him with water. Is it permissible to provide him with water or the person providing the water should remind him of his fasting?

Answer: It is permissible to provide him with water.

Question: What is the ruling of one who narrates a weak tradition while fasting without relating it to whom or who narrates it?

Answer: His fast does not become void.

Question: A person was sure that he had performed Ghusl (ritual ablution) and so fasted the month of Ramadhan, but after some time he realised that he hadn’t performed Ghusl, so what is the ruling of his fast?

Answer: His fast is correct.

Question: Can the baker drink water during the holy month of Ramadhan?

Answer: If he became thirsty to the extent he feared for himself from harm or collapsing and in a difficult situation it is permissible for him to drink but he must make up for it later on. It is an obligatory precaution to suffice on what is necessary and holding the fast for the rest of the day.

Question: Does putting on kohl and perfume break your fast?

Answer: It does not break your fast.

Question: I work in construction and cant work and fast at the same time because of the hot weather, so what do I do?

Answer: It is compulsory to fast, but if your thirst reached a limit where you fear you might harm yourself or collapse and in a difficult situation then drink only what is necessary and hold your fast for the rest of the day, but also make up for this fast after Ramadhan.

Question: If a person rinsed his mouth so that he can wash it but accidentally swallowed water?

Answer: His fast is not void if he was confident with himself during rinsing.

Question: If a person brushes his teeth with toothpaste but accidentally swallows the paste?

Answer: His fast is not void if he was confident with himself during rinsing.

Question: Are you allowed to swallow your saliva even if it was in your mouth?

Answer: It is permissible.

Question: Is it permissible to put on facial creams while fasting?

Answer: It does not affect fasting.

Question: Is it permitted to swim in the sea or a pond during the day in the month of Ramadhan?

Answer: It is allowed as long as you do not swallow the water.

Question: How much is the Zakatul Fitr and who should I give it to?

Answer: The amount of zakatul fitr, per head, is three kg. of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, other foodstuffs, or their value in money. It has to be set aside on the eve of Eid, or on the day of Eid [before prayer, for those who performed it], and up to zawaal for those who did not say the Eid prayer. This should be paid to the poor and the needy, who are eligible to receive income support from monetary tax (zakatul maal). (See Dialogue on Zakat).

It is to be noted, however, that the zakat of those who are not of a Hashimite descent is not halal for the Hashimites.

Zakatul Fitra should not be given to one’s dependants, such as father, mother, wife, and offspring.

Question: I am ill now and I cannot fast. What should I do, if my illness continues until the next Ramadhan. How should I go about it?

Answer: You won’t be required to do qadha, if your illness continues until the next Ramadhan. Instead, fidya (redemption from certain religious obligations by a material donation or ritual act), becomes due. In this case, you should give to the poor by way of sadaqah 750 gm of food for each day that you missed.

Question: If smoke or dust goes into a person's throat beyond his cotrol, will it invalidate his fast?

Answer: It wouldn’t invalidate his fast.

Question: Can I dip my head in water, taking precautions, in the process, not to let water find its way to my stomach?

Answer: Yes, you can do that, albeit it is absolutely makrooh.

Question: I was asleep during the day, and dreamed having a sexual intercourse precipitating ejaculation. What should I do?

Answer: The emission of semen in this case should not render the fast invalid. It should be in order, even without performing ghusl.

Question: While observing fast, can I rinse my mouth with water without swallowing it?

Answer: Yes, you can do that. If, however, the intention of rinsing was to seek cooling off and the water found its way to your stomach, you should make up for that day (qadha). Yet, if you swallowed the water unknowingly, you don’t have to do qadha.

Question: I did not know whether it will be the start of Ramadhan, and I intend to fast tomorrow. How would this day be treated?

Answer: You make your niyyah as though this day was of Sha’ban. If, however, during the day it was announced that it was the first day of Ramadhan, you rectify the niyyah and your fast shall be in order; i.e. there shall be no need for you to fast instead.

Question: Should someone fear that fasting may harm them, what should they do?

Answer: He who fears for himself of falling ill as a result of fasting is not required to fast. Nor is he who believes that fasting would worsen his poor state of health in any way, be it hampering his recovery or increasing his pain. This should, however, be commensurate with what is generally accepted in these circumstances.

Question: What is your fatwa about a person who sets out for a journey after Zawal (mid-day)?

Answer: If he sets out for a journey after zawaal, [he should continue with his fast]. Should he set out before dawn, he should not fast.

Question: I have heard it from my friends that in a non-obligatory fast, fast can be broken before time, if someone else invites him for meal before the iftar time. I am not sure, if it is right or not?

Answer: If fast is non-obligatory (Mustahab) and someone invites you, it is Mustahab to accept the invitation and break the fast.

Question: A believer fasts but does not know that intentionally getting into state of janãbat invalidates fasting—what should he do [when he finds out]?

Answer: It is obligatory on him to make up those fasts; however, there is no penalty on him as long as he was [erroneously] convinced that being in a state of janãbat does not invalidate fast or was unaware of that ruling.

Question: I have converted to Shia religion – Al-hamdu Lillah and I am living with my Sunni parents who do not know about my new faith. I have been staying away and avoiding breaking my fast with them because I know that Sunnis break their fast some minutes earlier than Shiites. My question is, what if on some occasions I cannot avoid being out of my house? Can I break my fast with my parents?

Answer: You cannot break your fast unless you are sure that it is the right time to break your fast. If you are unsure, you must wait until you are certain.

Question: Does phlegm, which is developed in the throat, invalidate fast?

Answer: It is preferable for the fasting person not to swallow phlegm that has reached the mouth, although it is permissible for him to swallow it. Similarly, it is permissible for him to swallow the saliva that has gathered in the mouth, even in large quantities.

Question: What is your ruling on washing the teeth with brush and toothpaste?

Answer: Washing the teeth with brush and toothpaste does not invalidate the fast as long as the person does not swallow the saliva that has mixed with the toothpaste. However, the lingering flavor or taste of the paste that mixes with the saliva does not affect the fasting.

Question: Is smoking permissible during Ramadhan fast?

Answer: It is not permissible as an obligatory precaution.

Question: Would the occurrence of the sighting of the new moon in the view of some religious scholars in Eastern countries be a sufficient evidence for one who is residing in Western countries even though the sighting of the new moon did not occur in those places for lack of clear skies?

Answer: It will not be a sufficient evidence for him or for others. However, if the occurrence of the sighting from the view point of those religious scholars attracts trustworthiness in that person that the moon was actually sighted or proof was established about the sighting without any counter proof —even in the form of a ruling— that person can act on what he believes is true.

Question: Would the sighting of the new moon in cities in the East like Iran, Ahsã’, Qatíf [both in Arabia], other countries in the Gulf, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon necessarily be followed by its sighting in Western countries like England, France and Germany if there were no barriers like clouds and fog?

Answer: Yes, the sighting of the new moon in an area would necessarily be followed —provided there were no barriers— in places which are located to its west as long as they are not far apart on the latitude lines.

Question: If the new moon is sighted in the East, does it apply to us also in the West? And if it is sighted in America, does it apply to Europe also?

Answer: If the new moon is sighted in the East, it also applies to the West as long as the latitude of the two locations are not greatly further away from one another. If the new moon is sighted in the West, it does not apply to the East unless it is proven—even by the moon staying on the first [Western] horizon for the length of time that is longer than the difference between the sunset of the two locations. [For example, if the sunset in the Eastern city was half an hour before the Western city where the moon was sighted, and the moon stays on the horizon longer than half an hour —the Eastern city can follow the moon sighted in the Western city.]

Question: According to some jurists, a person who intentionally invalidates his fast during the month of Ramadhãn by committing a sin has to pay all three kinds of penalty [that is, fasting for sixty days, feeding sixty poor people, and emancipating a slave]. What should a person therefore do during our time when emancipating a slave is impossible since there are virtually no slaves?

Answer: The penalty of emancipating a slave is waived when it is no more possible. It should, however, be clarified that in our view, it is not obligatory to pay all three kinds of penalty for invalidating a fast during Ramadhãn by committing a sin. And Allãh knows the best.

Question: A believer fasts but does not know that intentionally getting into state of janãbat invalidates fasting—what should he do [when he finds out]?

Question: Does masturbating during daytime of Ramadhãn invalidate the fast, regardless of whether or not it leads to ejaculation? What is the penalty that should be incurred by one who does so? What is the ruling for a woman who engages in masturbation during daytime of Ramadhãn, irrespective of whether or not it leads to discharge?

Answer: If a person masturbates with the intention of ejaculating and actually ejaculates, his fast is rendered invalid and he must make it up by way of qadhã as well as pay the penalty (kaffãra) which is fasting for two successive months or feeding sixty poor people. If he masturbates with the intention of ejaculating but does not ejaculate, he must complete the fast with the intention of pleasing the Almighty and then do it qadhã.

If he masturbates without the intention of ejaculating and he does not normally ejaculate, knowing that discharge is probable and it actually happens —he has to do qadhã without the penalty. However, if such a person was confident that no discharge would take place and it actually happens — no qadhã is required. In all these cases, there is no difference between a man and a woman.

Question: Does the nutrition given, intravenously invalidate fast irrespective of whether or not it was absolutely necessary for the patient?

Answer: In both the cases, it does not invalidate the fasting.

Question: Would use of a nozzle spray that facilitates breathing invalidate the fast?

Answer: If the spray that comes out of the nozzle enters the respiratory tract and not the passage of food and drink, it does not invalidate fast.

Question: Can a person who is fasting in the holy month of Ramadhãn serve food to non-Muslims?

Answer: By looking at the issue on its own merit, there is no problem in it.

Question: In some cities, the sun does not rise at all for days or does not set at all for days or even more. How should we pray and fast?

Answer: As for salãt, one should, as a matter of obligatory precaution, observe the closest place that has night and day in a twenty-four hour period, then say salãt according to its timings with the intention of mutlaqa [i.e., just qurbatan ilal lah without specifying whether it is ada (on time) or qadhã (after time)].

As for fasting, it is obligatory upon you to move during the month of Ramadhãn to another city where you can observe fasting of this holy month, or move to that city after that month to perform it qadhã.

Question: Is it permissible to rely on the European observatories [i.e., non-Muslim experts] for determining the timings of true dawn, sunrise, noon, and sunset for the whole year, including the month of Ramadhãn, knowing well that it is scientific and very precise to the minutes and seconds?

Answer: If one is sure of the correctness of their timings, it is permissible to act upon it. However, one should know that there are some differences in determining the true dawn especially in some of the cities in [northern] Europe [and Canada]; therefore, it is necessary to ascertain that it is based on the proper view.

Question: Some people come to a city with the intention of residing therein for some years for a specific purpose [e.g., education] During this time, they do not leave their own home-towns for good. When the specific purpose is accomplished, they leave that city and go to wherever they like. How should they do their salãt and how should they fast [in that city]?

Answer: They shall pray fully; they can fast after having lived in that city for a month just as they do in their own home-towns.

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