What B-R-E-A-K-S your FAST?

Sheikh Ibn Fawzaan (Hafidhahullaah)

It is obligatory for the Muslim to know of all that invalidates the fast so as to be aware of them. They include:

1) Sexual intercourse: Whenever the fasting person has sexual intercourse, his fast is invalidated. Subsequently, he is required to make up the fast for that day in which he had sexual intercourse in addition to paying a penalty (kaffaarah) which is to free a slave. If he is unable to find a slave or funds that are equal to that, then he is required to fast consecutively for two months. If he is unable to fast for two months, due to an Islaamically acceptable reason, he is to feed 60 poor people half a saa' each from the food common in that land.

2) Excretion of semen as a result of kissing, touching with desire, masturbation or persistently looking at that which arouses the desire. In this case, the fast is invalidated & he is required to make up for that day without paying a penalty (kaffaarah), since paying a penalty is specific to having had sexual intercourse.

3) Intentionally eating & drinking, due to that which Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) says:

“ وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّليْلِ”

{...and eat & drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall},

(Al-Baqarah 2:187)

As for he who eats & drinks out of forgetfulness, then this does not affect his fast as is mentioned in the following hadeeth:

((Whoever forgetfully eats or drinks, then he should complete his fast, for indeed it was Allaah who provided him the food and drink))

And from that which breaks the fast is water & other such substances to pass his throat via his nose. This is known as as-Sa'oof. Likewise, taking a nutritional injection directly into the vein & taking a blood transfusion whilst fasting. All of these invalidate the fast, as it constitutes nutrition for the body.

As regards a non-nutritional injection, then it is better for one who is fasting to avoid this so as to protect his fast. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

((Leave that which you are doubtful (about) for that which are not doubtful (about)))

And as such delay it until after having broken the fast at the time of Maghrib.

4) As for extracting blood via cupping or opening a vein or donating blood for medical reasons, then all of this invalidates the fast. As regards giving a small blood sample for testing purposes, then this does not affect the fast. Likewise, this applies to the unintentional flow of blood resulting from a nose bleed, injury or having a tooth removed. All of these do not affect the fast.

5) Intentional vomiting also invalidates the fast. However, the fast is not affected if he is overcome & is forced to vomit without intending so. This is based upon the statement of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم):

((Whoever is overcome (and forced) to vomit, then he is not required to make up (the fast for that day) & whoever intentionally vomits then he must make up (the fast for that day))).

The fasting person should not exert himself whilst gargling & sniffing water up his nose (when making wudhu), because it is quite possible the water may pass his throat and thereby enter his stomach. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

(((Whilst making wudhu)) exert yourself in sniffing water up the nose except if you are fasting)).

Using the miswaak (tooth-stick) does not affect the fast, rather it is recommended, whether fasting or not, throughout the day.

His fast is not affected if any dust or even a fly was to reach his throat.

It is obligatory for the fasting person to refrain from lying, backbiting & swearing, even if someone was to swear at him. If this is the case, he should say:

(((indeed), I am fasting))

Certainly, some people find it easy to abstain from food & drink but find it difficult to abandon that which has become a habit for them from evil speech and actions. This is why some of the Pious Predecessors have said:

((The easiest (type of) fast is abstaining from food and drink)).

So it is upon the Muslim to fear Allaah & be aware of Him and His Greatness & the fact that He Sees all that we do, such that absolutely nothing remains hidden from him. In doing this, he should protect his fast from all that invalidates it or reduces it's reward so that his fast remains correct &, inshaa.-Allaah, is accepted by Allaah.

It is befitting for the fasting person to busy himself in the remembrance of Allaah, reciting the Qur’aan & increasing in the performance of naafilah (voluntary) prayers.

It used to be that when the Pious Predecessors would fast, they would sit in the Masaajid & they would say:

((We shall protect our fast and not backbite anyone)).

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

((Whoever does not abandon evil speech and actions, then Allaah is not in need of him having left his food and drink (i.e. fasting))).

This is because seeking nearness to Allaah is not complete simply by leaving our personal desires (of eating and drinking, etc). Rather, it is by leaving that which Allaah has prohibited at all times in terms of lying, oppression & the like. In a narration. 

Abu Hurayrah said:

((The fast is accepted as worship so long as no Muslim has been backbitten or harmed)).

And it is narrated by Anas (radiyAllaahu anhu) who said:

((The one who has backbitten the people whilst fasting has not really fasted)).