About what does not break fasting during treatment. Prayer time
I am a doctor, and patients often come to me with questions about what breaks fasting during a planned
treatment, during the month of Ramadan, so here I will write answers to the most frequently asked questions, in case anyone is interested, or if it comes in handy, you never know:
1. Is the fast broken by injections?
IV, IM and SC injections do NOT break the fast.
Injections given not to replace food and drink, but used for systematic treatment, such as penicillin and insulin, or a tonic or vaccination, do not break the fast, regardless of whether they are intramuscular or intravenous. (Fatawa Ibn Ibrahim, 4/189).
The fast is not broken. However, if the injection is given directly into the stomach or brain, the fast will be broken. (Ahsanul Fatawa, volume 4, page 432, Sa'id)
Note. Insulin administered into the abdomen (subcutaneously) does not break fasting because it is not injected directly into the stomach.
2. Is it possible to use eye drops and ear drops during fasting?
It is possible, the fast is NOT broken.
According to the most correct opinion, eye drops, ear drops, enemas, pulling teeth and treating wounds do not break the fast. (Majmu Fatawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/233,25/245).
3. Does the use of an IV or blood transfusion break the fast?
IV infusions and blood transfusions do NOT break the fast.
No. (Fatawa Mahmudiyya, vol. 10, p. 149, Faruqiyah)
When the blood is extracted, purified and returned, enriched with drugs or nutrients, the fast is not broken. (Fatawa al-Lajna al-Daimah, 10/190)
4. Is it possible to donate blood for testing during fasting?
It is possible, the fast is NOT broken.
Yes, you can do this, if it does not weaken you so much that keeping the fast becomes difficult. (Ahsanul Fatawa, vol. 4, p. 435)
Taking blood tests does not break the fast and is considered permissible, out of necessity. (Fatawa al-Da'wa: Ibn Baaz, 979).
5. Is fasting broken due to nosebleeds?
It is not violated if a person does not feel blood in the throat and does not swallow it.
The fast is not broken just because of nosebleeds. However, if blood passes through the throat, the fast will be broken if the person tastes blood in the throat or if the swallowed blood is more or the same as the saliva swallowed with it. If there is less blood than saliva, the fast remains valid. (Al-Fatawa Al-Hindiyya, vol. 1, p. 203, Turas)
If a fasting person gets injured or suffers from a nosebleed, or if water or gasoline accidentally gets into his mouth, this does not break his fast. If dust, smoke or a fly accidentally enters his mouth, this does not break his fast either. Things that cannot be avoided when swallowed, such as saliva or dust from dry earth, do not break the fast. If a person collects a sufficient amount of saliva in the mouth and then deliberately swallows it, then this does not break the fast, according to the most correct opinion. (Al-Mughi, Ibn Qudama, 3/106).
6. Is fasting broken by vomiting?
The fast is NOT broken if a person could not restrain the urge to vomit and did not swallow the remnants of the vomit, BUT!!! the fast is considered broken (and must be made up) if a person specifically induces vomiting.
“Whoever vomits unintentionally should not make up the fast later, but whoever causes vomiting on purpose should make up the fast” (Sahih Hadith, narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 3/89).
The fast will be broken only if a person vomits a mouthful and he deliberately swallows this vomit, or if he deliberately induces vomiting with a mouthful, regardless of whether he swallows the vomit or not. (Al-Fatawa Al-Hindiyya, vol.1, p. 203/4, Turas)
By "(vomiting) a mouthful" is meant an amount that a person cannot hold in the mouth without effort.
One who intentionally induces vomiting by pressing his finger at the bottom of his throat, or by applying pressure to his stomach, or by deliberately inhaling a repulsive odor, or by looking at something that causes him to vomit, is obligated to make up the fast later. If he feels like he is going to vomit and then it subsides, it does not break his fast because it is beyond his control, but if the vomit comes out into his mouth and he swallows it back, it breaks his fast. If a person feels weak in the stomach, he should not suppress the urge to vomit, because this may harm him. (Majalis Shahr Ramadan, Ibn Usaymeen, 67).
7. Is fasting broken when using an inhaler or an oxygen pillow?
The fast is NOT broken.
Inhalers used for asthma, as well as oxygen pillows, do not break fasting, because the compressed gas going into the lungs is not food, and the need for it is constant, during Ramadan and at other times.
If a person suffers from a disease for which he is required to take medicine regularly, then he may not fast. Just like a person whose health deteriorates because he fasts. Insulin does not break fasting. This is the decision of the Saudi Arabian Fatawa Committee.
Regarding the inhaler, it does not break the fast, and this is logical, because it is not food. (Ibn Uthaymeen, Fatawa Arkan al-Islam, p. 475)
I would be grateful for any reliable additions.
In monasteries, questions regarding fasting do not arise, but people living in the world are often perplexed: how to fast when colleagues or family members do not fast, when you have to work full time and spend a lot of time getting to work, when you are overcome by illnesses and infirmities, fatigue and stress?
The Optina elders considered fasting very important and gave many instructions about fasting and abstinence.
Why do we fast
The Monk Ambrose wrote about the need to observe fasts:
In addition, there is an indication in the Gospel that we must fast on Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday the Lord was handed over to be crucified, and on Friday he was crucified.”
The elder explained why we abstain from fasting food:
“Mean food is not defilement. It does not defile, but fattens the human body. And the holy Apostle Paul says: “Even if our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is renewed from day to day” (2 Cor. 4:16). He called the outer man the body, and the inner man the soul.”
St. Barsanuphius reminded us that if we please the flesh, then its needs grow incredibly quickly and suppress any spiritual movement of the soul:
“The proverb is true: “The more you eat, the more you want.” If we just quench our hunger and thirst and get busy or begin to pray, food will not distract us from our activities. I experienced this myself.
If we please the flesh, then its needs grow incredibly quickly, so that they suppress any spiritual movement of the soul.”
Is fasting harmful to health?
Elder Ambrose instructed:
“Of course, it’s a different matter if someone breaks the fast due to illness and bodily infirmity. And those who are healthy from fasting are healthier and kinder, and what’s more, they live longer, even though they seem skinny in appearance. With fasting and abstinence, the flesh does not rebel so much, and sleep does not overcome so much, and fewer empty thoughts enter the head, and spiritual books are read more readily and understood more readily.”
The Monk Barsanuphius also explained to his children that fasting not only does not harm health, but, on the contrary, preserves it:
“But the commandments of the Lord are not grievous. The Orthodox Church is not our stepmother, but a kind and loving mother. She instructs us, for example, to observe moderate fasting, and it does not harm our health at all, but, on the contrary, preserves it.
And good doctors, even unbelievers, now claim that constantly eating meat is harmful: plant foods are necessary from time to time - that is, in other words, they prescribe fasting. Now in Moscow and other big cities vegetarian canteens are being opened to give the stomach a rest from meat. On the contrary, due to the constant consumption of meat food, all sorts of diseases occur.”
Should sick people fast?
There are cases of such bodily infirmities when fasting is not harmful, but, on the contrary, beneficial. Elder Barsanuphius gave an example from his pastoral practice, when a sick woman did not observe fasts, fearing deterioration in health and even death. But when she began to fast on the advice of the elder, she not only did not die, but completely recovered:
“Two spouses from a merchant family, leading a pious life, came to me. He is a healthy man, but his wife was constantly ill and never kept fasts. I tell her:
Start fasting and everything will pass.
She answers:
What if I die from fasting? It’s scary to do such an experiment.
“You won’t die,” I answer, “but you will get better.”
And indeed, the Lord helped her. She began to observe the fasts established by the Church and is now completely healthy, as they say - “blood and milk.”
To the sick child who did not want to break his fast, Elder Ambrose answered:
“I received your letter. If your conscience does not agree to allow you to eat a modest meal during Lent, although due to illness, then you should not despise or force your conscience. Fast food cannot heal you from illness, and therefore later you will be embarrassed that you acted contrary to the good suggestions of your conscience. It is better to choose from lean foods that are nutritious and digestible for your stomach.
It happens that some sick people eat fasting food as medicine and then repent of this, that due to illness they violated the rules of the Holy Church about fasting. But everyone needs to look and act according to their conscience and consciousness and in accordance with the mood of their spirit, so as not to upset themselves even more by confusion and double-mindedness.”
However, illnesses and infirmities vary from person to person, and with some you can limit yourself, while with others it is better not to violate doctor’s orders. Not eating this or that food should not be an end in itself. Fasting is intended for healthy people, but for the sick, fasting is the disease itself. Pregnant women, sick people, and small children are usually exempt from fasting.
Thus, in connection with the upcoming fast, Elder Ambrose gave instructions to the mistress of the house, who was burdened with numerous chores with children and did not have good health:
“Try to spend the coming fast judiciously, taking into account your bodily strength. You must remember that you are the mistress of the house, surrounded by children; besides, ill health becomes attached to you.
All this shows that you we need to take more care of spiritual virtues; Regarding the use of food and other bodily exploits, good reasoning with humility should come first…
Saint Climacus quotes the words: “I did not fast, nor did I lie down, nor did I lie down on the ground; But I humbled myself, and the Lord saved me.” Humbly present your weakness to the Lord, and He is able to work all things out for good.”
The monk warned:
“Bodily weakness and pain are tricky, and it’s tricky to cope with it. Not without reason, Saint Isaac the Syrian, the first of the great fasters, wrote: “If we force a weak body beyond its strength, then confusion comes upon confusion.”
Therefore, in order not to be needlessly embarrassed, it is better to tolerate bodily weakness as much as necessary.”
Elder Anatoly (Zertsalov) wrote:
“You can eat fish if you are weak. Just please don’t be angry and don’t hold onto your thoughts for too long.”
What to do if you can’t get enough of lean food?
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“You write that it’s scary to be left without milk. But the Lord is strong to give strength to a weak nature. It would be good to eat perches and ruffs..."
The elder himself ate very little food. Surprised by this, they once asked him whether it was difficult for him to achieve such abstinence or was it already given to him by nature? He answered with these words:
“If a person is not forced, even if he ate all the food of Egypt and drank all the water of the Nile, his belly will still say: I hunger!”
The Monk Ambrose used to say, as always, briefly but aptly:
“Explaining lips are a pork trough.”
How to combine fasting and social life (when you are invited to anniversaries, banquets, etc.)?
Reasoning is also required here. There are banquets and holidays where our presence is completely unnecessary, and we can safely refuse this celebration without breaking the fast. There are feasts where you can eat something lean, unnoticed by others, without exalting your fast over others.
In cases of breaking the fast “for the sake of guests,” St. Joseph taught:
“If you break abstinence for the sake of guests, then you don’t need to be embarrassed, but reproach yourself for it and bring repentance.”
Instructed:
“Fasting can be twofold: external and internal. The first is abstinence from modest food, the second is abstinence from all our senses, especially vision, from everything unclean and nasty. Both posts are inextricably linked with each other. Some people pay all their attention only to the external post, without understanding the internal one at all.
For example, such a person comes into society somewhere, conversations begin, in which very often there is condemnation of his neighbors. He takes an active part in them and steals a lot from his neighbor’s honor. But then it’s time for dinner. The guest is offered a quick meal: a cutlet, a piece of pig, etc. He resolutely refuses.
Well, eat,” the owners persuade, “it’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth!”
“No, I’m strict about this,” he declares, completely unaware that by judging his neighbor, he has already violated and even completely destroyed the fast.”
Post on the road
There are other situations when we cannot fully fast, such as when traveling. When we travel, we live in special conditions beyond our control.
Although if the journey is short and there is an opportunity to eat lean food, then you should refrain from eating fast food.
In this regard, we can recall the instructions of Elder Barsanuphius:
“A young girl, Sofya Konstantinovna, who came to visit the Niluses in Optina Pustyn, complained to the elder in confession that, living in someone else’s house, she was deprived of the opportunity to observe fasts. “Well, why are you now tempted by sausage on your way on a fast day?” - the old man asked her. S.K. I was horrified: how could the elder know this?”
If the post seems unnecessary, redundant
Sometimes people deny the meaning of fasting, declare that they agree with all the commandments, but they don’t want to, cannot, and consider it unnecessary and superfluous. Elder Barsanuphius said in this regard that these are the enemy’s thoughts: the enemy sets this up because he hates fasting:
“We understand the power of fasting and its significance if only from the fact that it is somehow especially hated by the enemy. They come to me for advice and confession - I advise them to observe holy fasts. They agree with everything, but when it comes to fasting, I don’t want to, I can’t, and so on. The enemy is so exciting: he doesn’t want the holy fasts to be observed...”
About abstinence and three degrees of satiety
You also need to remember that you can become satiated with lean food to such an extent that it becomes gluttony. For people of different builds and having different physical activity, the amount of food will also be different. Reverend Nikon reminded:
“One pound of bread is enough for one person’s body, four pounds of bread is enough for another person’s body: he will not be satisfied with less bread. Therefore, Saint John Chrysostom says that a faster is not one who consumes a small amount of food, but one who consumes less food than what is required for his body. This is what abstinence is all about.”
The Monk Ambrose wrote about abstinence and the three degrees of satiety:
“You write about food that it is difficult for you to get used to eating little by little, so that after lunch you are still hungry. The Holy Fathers established three degrees regarding food: abstinence - in order to be somewhat hungry after eating, contentment - in order to be neither full nor hungry, and satiety - in order to eat to the full, not without some burden.
Of these three degrees, everyone can choose any one, according to their strengths and according to their structure, healthy and sick.”
If you break your fast due to inattention
It happens that a person eats fast food on a fast day due to inattention, absent-mindedness, or forgetfulness. How to deal with such an oversight?
The Monk Joseph gives an example of a man who ate a quick pie on a fast day, and at first he ate it, forgetting about the fast day, and then, remembering, finished it anyway, reasoning that he had sinned anyway:
“In your second letter, you described an incident that happened to you in St. Petersburg: you ate one half of a quick pie on Wednesday out of oblivion, and the other half you ate, having already come to your senses. The first sin is excusable, but the other is not excusable. It’s like someone running out of oblivion towards an abyss, but in the middle of the road he comes to his senses and still continues to run, despising the danger that threatens him.”
If you break your fast due to lack of willpower
Sometimes a person tries to keep the fast, but cannot stand it, due to lack of willpower, he breaks it and becomes despondent as a result. To these the Monk Joseph advised:
“When you cannot abstain, then at least let us humble ourselves and reproach ourselves and not condemn others.”
Also, Elder Joseph, in response to his child’s lamentation that he could not fast properly, answered:
“You write that you fasted poorly - well, thank the Lord for how He helped you abstain, and remember the words of St. John Climacus: “I did not fast, but humbled myself, and the Lord saved me!”
About immoderate, unreasonable fasting
The Monk Ambrose warned against unreasonable fasting, when a person who has never fasted before imposes on himself an immoderate fast, possibly instigated by the demon of vanity:
“Otherwise we had one example of an unreasonable fast. One landowner, who spent his life in bliss, suddenly wanted to observe a strict fast: he ordered himself to grind hemp seed throughout Lent and ate it with kvass, and from such a sharp transition from bliss to fasting, his stomach was so spoiled that doctors could not find it for a whole year. could correct it.
However, there is also a patristic word that we should not be killers of the body, but killers of the passions.”
Fasting is not a goal, but a means
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The Monk Leo did not approve of those who, abandoning prudent moderation, indulged in excessive bodily exploits, hoping to be saved as if by them alone:
“I do not refute abstinence, it always has its strengths, but its essence and strength do not lie in not eating food, but let all memory and the like be eradicated from the heart. This is true fasting, which the Lord requires of us most of all.”
Elder Barsanuphius also recalled:
“Of course, fasting, if not accompanied by prayer and spiritual work, has almost no value. Fasting is not a goal, but a means, a benefit that makes prayer and spiritual improvement easier for us.”
Rev. Anatoly (Zertsalov) wrote:
“Not eating bread and not drinking water or anything else means not fasting. For demons do not eat or drink anything at all, but they are still evil...”
And Elder Nikon aptly and briefly remarked:
““True fasting is the alienation of evil deeds” (as it is said in one Lenten stichera).”
Temptations of fasting
During fasting, irritability and anger often awaken in us. Fasting should release our spiritual strength for good deeds.
The Monk Ambrose taught:
“You need to have abstinence not only from various foods and drinks, but from passions in general: from anger and irritability, from jealousy and condemnation, from secret and obvious exaltation, from stubbornness and inappropriate insistence on one’s own, and the like.”
We were created for worship, and fasting is one of worship, and secondly, fasting itself rewards Allah. IN Koran you have probably seen many verses where it is said that Allah knows what is in our thoughts, what our intention is. But the angels cannot know this, they are witnesses of what is happening, they record our deeds, and the calculation will be made Almighty. That is why there is an opinion that angels cannot know the full reward for fasting, since they do not know whether this person fasted or not, with prayer everything is clear, when a person prays, it is visible, but fasting, how to define it? It is worth paying attention to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in which he said: “Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied, and the smallest reward for a hidden good deed will be rewarded tenfold, but it can increase to seven hundred.”
Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “With the exception of fasting, for, verily, fasting is done for My sake, and I will reward for it, since a person refuses to satisfy his desires and food for My sake!”, this gives hope for a truly great reward.
Along with the above, fasting is a cleansing from committed sins. So, The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever prays at night during Ramadan with faith and hope for a reward from Allah will have his previous sins forgiven,” and, importantly, it is good for health. Speaking about this, the Messenger of Allah said: “Fast, you will be healthy!”
Ramadan is a kind of catalyst; good deeds performed this month have a much greater degree of reward than those performed on other ordinary days. Therefore, most Muslims try to pray more during the month of Ramadan, give alms, pay zakat, and the wealthy go on umrah (minor pilgrimage). Good deeds done during Ramadan are more rewarding.
Fasting time
Fasting is observed from dawn to sunset throughout. You can eat before morning adhan. But taking into account that the correct time from the first dawn relative to what is written in the calendars, eating should be stopped 30 minutes before dawn, in order to protect yourself from spoiling the holiday.
The basis of observing the Uraza is to fulfill three main points:
Do not eat
Not to drink
Don't smoke, this applies to the first two points
Do not have sexual intercourse
Moreover, all three basics must be performed from dawn to sunset.
These points relate to the external manifestation of fasting, however, one must not miss the part that is not visible to others, but is also important for fulfillment in order for the fast to be correct.
It must be taken into account that during fasting You can’t swear, be hostile, talk idle, be more patient, merciful, and do not waste time on things that are useless from the point of view of Shariah.
Knowing the basics of the Eid, you can answer most questions that arise on the topic of fasting in the month of Ramadan. However, some questions require some explanation, which will be discussed in this article.
What spoils the post?
Violations of fasting are divided into two groups:
1. That which breaks the fast and requires its completion (kaza is the completion of the fast one day in one day) and atonement (kafarah is the obligatory observance of continuous fasting for 60 days for one day of deliberately broken fast. Who is not able to atone for the fast due to illness or infirmity, he is obliged to feed 60 poor people in one day of broken fasting).
1) Eating intentionally without any valid reason;
2) Intentionally committed sexual intercourse.
2. What breaks the fast and requires only replenishment:
1) Taking food or medicine due to illness;
2) Eating by mistake, that is, if you ate or drank after dawn, assuming that dawn had not yet come, or ate during the day, thinking that the sun had already set, but it turned out that it had not set yet. An example can also be given where a person mistakenly swallowed water while performing ablution;
3) Intentional vomiting;
4) Intentionally consuming an item other than food, such as dough, tree sap, or chewing gum;
5) The appearance of menstruation;
6) Ejaculation during love games.
What does not ruin fasting in the month of Ramadan?
1. Swimming. The Prophet, peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon him, advised to “drench yourself during fasting due to heat or thirst” (Reported by Ahmad, Malik and Abu Dawud)
2. Use of antimony. Anas reported that the Prophet used to use antimony during fasting.
3. Kiss your wife or husband while maintaining control over yourself. Aisha reported that the Prophet used to kiss and touch her during fasting.
5. Swallowing something that cannot be avoided (for example, your own saliva or street dust, etc.)
6. Tasting food when purchasing (or cooking) with the tip of the tongue.
7. Smell flowers or use perfume, etc.
9. You can continue your fast even while in junub (Junub is a state of defilement, after sexual intercourse and before bathing).
Also, after the end of menstruation or the postpartum period, a woman can begin to fast if the bleeding stops at night (any time before sunset).
In all the above cases, bathing can be postponed until the next morning and the fast will remain valid.
10. The one who forgets that he is fasting and starts eating or drinking. Most scholars said that in this case the fast does not deteriorate and is valid. Words are evidence Allah Almighty “O our Lord, do not punish us if we have forgotten or made a mistake.”
11. Involuntary vomiting. The Prophet said: “If anyone vomits involuntarily, his fast is not broken and he should not make up for (that day). But if anyone deliberately causes himself to vomit, then he must make up for (that day)". (Reported by Ahmed, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah). In any case, a Muslim must fast for the rest of the day after vomiting.
When can you make up for missed fasting days in Ramadan?
There are no special provisions in Islam regarding special days for fasting. But it should be taken into account that the best solution is to make up for the missed days as quickly as possible at the best time for the missed days. For example, if a person missed the month of Ramadan due to illness, then it is best for him, due to the nature of the illness, to make up days in the winter, when it will not be particularly difficult for a person to fast. If a person cannot fast in winter, then he needs to feed the poor for each day he misses.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days at other times.” Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, 185 verses. Disabled, old and sick people who are not expected to recover and improve their condition, such as patients with asthma, diabetes, are allowed to replace fasting by feeding the poor (in accordance with feeding one poor person for one day of missed fasting). The concept of “to feed” in Muslim law means either in the morning or in the evening.
Marriage in the month of Ramadan
You can get married in the month of Ramadan, however, during daylight hours you cannot have a feast and the newlyweds cannot have sexual intercourse. There are also no prohibitions on performing nikah between two gayats.
Ramadan and pregnancy
A woman can keep her spirits up during pregnancy. But if the fast becomes the cause of malaise, impotence or insufficient nutrition for the child, and also the nursing woman has a fear of loss of milk or strength, then in this case they are allowed not to fast on the basis of the rule of Islamic law: “On the inadmissibility of causing harm and grave consequences.” But they must make up for the fast after the birth of the child, as well as feeding him - day after day of the missed fast. It should also be noted that it is not necessary to observe consistency in completing the fast. This is evidenced by the words of Ibn Abbas, may he be pleased with him Allah: “You can not take into account the consistency in making up for fasting, since Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days at other times.”(that is Allah did not indicate that the sequence of missed days must be observed for the specified reasons. You can first fast one day, and a week later - another missed day of the month of Ramadan). Koran, Surah al-Baqarah, 185 verse. The same applies to a woman who has not fasted for several years due to successive births and breastfeedings. Ibrahim An-Nahgi said: “Even if the second Ramadan comes, then it is necessary to keep both fasts (obligatory and compulsory), and fasting cannot be replaced by feeding the poor. Aisha, may he be pleased with her Allah, said: “It happened that I could only complete my fast in the month of Sha’ban.” Section “Completing the fast”, “Sahih Bukhari”, hadith No. 1849, Sahih Ibn Hibban, hadith No. 3516. The position of pregnant and lactating women is equal to the position of the traveler and the sick (temporary permission to interrupt the fast due to difficulty), so they should definitely complete the fast , whenever it is and cannot be replaced by feeding the poor, like a traveler.
Intimate relationships in the month of Ramadan
If you have read about the basics of fasting, then the ban, as you understand, on sexual intercourse applies to daylight hours of the month of Ramadan. At night, spouses are allowed to have intimacy without restrictions, but within the limits permitted by Sharia.
Get pregnant in Ramadan
There are no prohibitions on pregnancy (due this month) in Islam. On the contrary, some couples who were unable to get pregnant in normal months became pregnant in this month. This can be associated with diligent worship in the month of Ramadan and with asking forgiveness for sins.
Masturbation in Ramadan
This action is prohibited in Islam, according to Islamic scholars. The only time a person can resort to this prohibition is if there is a high probability of committing adultery. But it should be taken into account that the action itself is forbidden, but is chosen as less dangerous than adultery. Masturbation spoils the fast.
Wet dream in Ramadan
Ejaculation that occurs in a dream does not spoil the fast, even if it happened during the daytime.
Periods in Ramadan
A woman cannot fast during her period - it is prohibited. Although there are methods to delay the onset of menstruation by taking pills. This option is possible, although it is worth leaving everything as it is, because in this case, even without fasting, the woman fulfills the command Almighty, for which he will receive an award.
Smoking in Ramadan
Smoking breaks the fast, and this action is not appropriate for a Muslim. If earlier it was possible to say that smoking cannot be regarded as haram, now, when cigarette packs say that smoking kills or causes cancer, we can say with confidence that smoking is haram. Because it causes damage to health, even death.
Injections in Ramadan
In this case, injections are divided into vitamin injections and injections for other purposes, for example, painkillers. Injections with vitamins and glucose spoil the fast, but injections necessary to maintain normal life or painkillers are allowed and do not spoil the fast.
Death before compensation for missed post
If a person died before he had the opportunity to make up for the missed fast, then he is supposed to be given fidia (especially if it was bequeathed by the deceased), or food, or the amount of money that the kazy established for a certain region.
What is undesirable to do during fasting?
1. It is not advisable to stay in water or a bath for a long time, as there is a possibility of water entering the body;
2. Engage in lovemaking (hugs and kisses);
3. Gargle;
4. Perform bloodletting, as this can weaken a person so much that he will have to break his fast;
5. Taste food.
6. Swallow your saliva, previously accumulated in the mouth
What is advisable to do during fasting?
Performing the Tarawih prayer collectively. It is performed after the obligatory night (Isha) prayer.
Observing Suhoor (eating before dawn). Even if you don’t feel like eating, it’s best to drink at least a couple sips of water. The Messenger of Allah said: “Eat before dawn, for at that time there is grace” (Al-Bukhari);
Break your fast as quickly as possible. The Messenger of Allah said: “People will be in good health as long as they hurry to break their fast” (Al-Bukhari);
When breaking the fast, it is advisable to contact To Allah with a prayer. It is reported that Abdullah b. Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The prayer of a fasting person when he breaks his fast is not rejected.”
Perform as many prayers as possible and turn to Allah as often as possible;
Dedicate more time to reading and studying Holy Quran. The Messenger of Allah read the Quran most of all, especially in the month of Ramadan (Al-Bukhari).
Thank Allah for the opportunity to fast during Ramadan.
There are more than 24 actions that do not break the fast.
If, while fasting, a person sees someone forgetfully eating food, then the decision whether to remind him that he is fasting depends on who this person is:
- If a man produces seminal fluid as a result of thinking or looking at a woman’s genitals, his fast is not broken. Although this action is haram, its prohibition does not mean that it automatically breaks the fast.
- If a person gets under a cold shower and feels cold inside, the fast is valid.
- The use of eye cosmetics (whether antimony or eye shadow), rubbing oil into the mustache, as well as applying cream, ointment or oil to the body and rubbing into the skin does not affect the validity of the fast. Moreover, according to the most correct opinion, the fast is not broken even if a person, after applying antimony, felt its taste in his mouth or saw that his saliva was colored the color of antimony. It doesn't matter whether the antimony smells like incense or not.
- If you tie a grape on a thread, swallow it, and then pull it back out with the help of a thread, the fast is not considered broken.
- Inserting a finger into the genital organ does not break the fast, provided that the finger was dry (that is, it was not moistened with water or, for example, medicine) and was not inserted deep into the outer part of the genital organ. This rule applies to the examination of a woman by a gynecologist. During the examination, the fast is not broken if only the external part of the genital organ was examined and nothing wet was introduced into the genital organ.
- Hijama (bloodletting) does not break the fast. There is a hadith on this subject, which says that during fasting, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, performed hijama. There is also a hadith with the meaning: “The fast of the one to whom bloodletting is done, and the one who does the bloodletting is broken,” but, according to the interpretation of scholars, the meaning of this hadith is that bloodletting reduces the reward for fasting, while the validity of the fast is not broken. However, bloodletting is allowed only if a person is sure that this procedure will not weaken him and he will be able to continue fasting.
- Gyibat also does not break the fast, although there is a hadith whose external meaning indicates the opposite.
- Changing the niyat does not affect the validity of the fast. If a person during fasting decided to break the fast, but did not do so, his fast remains valid.
- A distinction must be made between inhaling aromas and inhaling smoke or vapor. During fasting, it is absolutely permissible for a person to inhale the aromas of flowers, incense, etc. But, if a person intentionally inhales smoke through his mouth or nose and it gets into his throat, the fast is broken. It does not matter what kind of smoke it was - incense smoke, cigarette smoke, and so on. If smoke gets into a person's nose or mouth by accident, against his will, his fast is valid. For example, if a person gets into a room where they are smoking, covers his mouth and nose with his palm, but the smoke still gets inside, the fast is not broken.
- The fast is not broken if dust gets into a person’s throat, even if it was dust from flour.
- If a fly flies into a person’s mouth and he swallows it, the fast is valid.
- If a person took medicine before the start of the fasting day, but already during the fast he felt a taste in his mouth, this does not affect the validity of the fast.
- The state of “janaba” does not in any way affect the validity of the fast. If a person wakes up in a state of defilement, his fast is valid, even if he remained in this state for several days in a row. In general, being in a state of ritual purity is not a condition for the validity of fasting.
- According to Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Muhammad, if a man inserts water into his genitals, the fast is not broken. However, Imam Abu Yusuf expressed the opinion that if the water reaches the bladder, the fast is broken.
- Getting water into the ear while bathing in a river or performing ablution does not break the fast. In the Hanafi madhhab, there is disagreement as to whether the fast is broken if a person himself drops water or medicine into his ear (if the liquid penetrates into the middle ear, located behind the eardrum). According to the most correct opinion in the madhhab, fasting is broken. If a person cleans his ears, for example with a stick, and inserts a stick that already has dirt on it several times inside the ear, this does not break the fast.
- According to the Hanafi madhhab, swallowing mucous secretions from the nose does not break the fast, provided that they do not go beyond the mouth (or nose) so much as to separate from it. If a person has already blown his nose or spat out this secretion, but then swallows it, the fast is broken. The same goes for swallowing saliva. But if saliva flows out of a person’s mouth and hangs in the form of a thread or drop without separating from the mouth, swallowing it does not break the fast. If a person wets his lips with saliva during a conversation and then licks them, this does not affect the validity of the fast. According to the Shafi'i madhhab, if a person swallows accumulated saliva or accumulated mucous discharge from the nose, the fast is broken, therefore the scholars of the Hanafi madhhab recommend not swallowing accumulated saliva or accumulated mucous discharge from the nose in order to overcome the disagreement between the madhhabs.
- The book Al-Huja says: “Sheikh Abu Ibrahim was asked whether the fast of a person who swallows mucus is broken. The sheikh replied: “If we are talking about a small amount of mucus, then the fast is not broken, according to the Hanafi ijma. And if mucus fills the mouth and comes out, then the fast is broken, according to the opinion of Abu Yusuf, and not broken, according to the opinion of Abu Hanifa."
- Vomiting, according to the most correct opinion in the madhhab, expressed by Imam Muhammad, does not break the fast if the person did not cause it intentionally. There is a hadith on this topic by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with the following meaning: “The fast of a person who is overcome by vomiting is not broken, and there is no obligation on him to make up for it, and if a person deliberately causes vomiting, his fast is broken.” If a person vomits against his will (even if the vomit fills his entire mouth) and he involuntarily swallows the vomit, according to Imam Muhammad, his fast is not broken. One reason for this is that vomit is a substance that cannot be eaten. Regarding whether intentionally induced vomiting affects the validity of fasting, there is disagreement between Imam Muhammad and Imam Abu Yusuf. According to Imam Abu Yusuf, if vomiting was caused intentionally, the fast is not broken unless the vomit completely fills the mouth. In this case, the fast is not broken even if the person intentionally swallowed such an amount of vomit. However, the most correct opinion in the madhhab on this issue is the opinion of Imam Muhammad, according to which the fast of a person who deliberately induces vomiting is broken in any case - whether he swallowed the vomit or not.
- If a person has a small piece of food (less than a pea) stuck in his teeth after Suhoor and he swallows this piece during fasting, the fast is not broken. A small amount of food should be understood as an amount that a person easily swallows along with saliva, without resorting to the help of the tongue and without making any effort to swallow it.
- The book “Al-Kafi” says that if a person has a piece of food left on his lip (i.e. outside the oral cavity), not exceeding the size of a sesame seed, and gets into his mouth and dissolves there, it does not felt no taste in my mouth, this does not affect the validity of the fast.
Praise be to Allah, who made the change of day and night an example for people with intelligence! I give him praise and thanks for his abundant benefits. There is no deity worthy of worship except He, the Mighty, the Forgiving. With His wisdom He made this world transitory and ordered to prepare luggage for the Permanent Abode. Blessings and greetings to the best of prophets and messengers, our prophet Muhammad, his family and his pious companions!
Fasting is a great worship that requires every believer to know its rules. One must also beware of falling into mistakes out of ignorance. A Muslim needs to pay attention to the following things:
1. That which breaks the fast and makes it invalid.
The first thing to note is that consuming anything that would normally spoil the fast does not invalidate it if it was due to forgetfulness, ignorance or coercion, according to Allah:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
« Our Lord! Don't punish us if we forget or make a mistake "(Bakara, 286),
إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ
“...not on those who were forced to it, while a firm faith rested in his heart "(An-Nakhl, 106),
وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِ وَلَٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ
« There will be no sin on you if you make a mistake, unless you intend to do so in your heart "(Al-Ahzab, 5).
There are eight reasons that spoil the post:
1) Sexual intimacy, committed during the day, if it was committed by a person who was obliged to fast. The one who breaks the fast for this reason is charged with compensation for the fast and atonement for sin in the form of freeing the slave. If he is unable to do this, then two months of continuous fasting. If he cannot do this, then feed sixty poor people.
2) Ejaculation of sperm not in a dream, as a result of masturbation, copulation, kissing, hugging, etc.
3) Eating or drinking, both beneficial and harmful, like smoking.
4) Nutritional injections, which saturate the body, replacing food, since they are equivalent to food and drink. As for non-nutritive injections, whether they are axillary or intravenous injections, whether a person feels their taste in his throat or not, they do not spoil the fast.
5) Blood infusion. For example, if a fasting person has a hemorrhage (or bleeding), and blood is infused into him as a replacement for the blood that has expired.
6) The release of menstrual or postpartum blood.
7) Hijama(bloodletting) or what essentially replaces bloodletting. But the bleeding itself, like a nosebleed or bleeding after a tooth is removed, does not spoil the fast, because it is not bloodletting or something that replaces it.
8) Vomiting, if it is caused intentionally. But if a person vomits involuntarily, then the fast in this case does not deteriorate.
2. An indication of the errors and omissions into which some fasters fall:
1) Absence at night or before dawn of the intention to fast on the coming day, although in Ramadan it is enough to make one intention for the entire month.
2) Serve suhoor (food before dawn) an hour or two before dawn, if there is a recommendation to hurry with breaking the fast, and postpone suhoor closer to dawn.
3) Excessive consumption of food by the majority, which contradicts the very purpose of fasting, which is to make a person hungry, which leads to humility before Allah.
4) Negligence in performing midday and afternoon prayers due to sleep, laziness or because of being busy with something that is not useful.
5) Idle talk, foul language, lies, deceit, slander and gossip.
6) Wasting precious time on entertainment and entertainment, watching games or movies, solving riddles and puzzles, or walking aimlessly on the streets.
7) Inattention to such additional actions as prayers to Allah (dua), His remembrance (dhikr), reading the Koran and performing additional prayers.
8) Leaving the performance of the Tarawih prayer together with the imam until the end. Since we know from the Sunnah that the one who prayed behind the imam will be recorded that he stood in prayer all night.
9) At the beginning of the month one can see a large number of people praying and people engaged in reciting the Quran, but towards the end of the month their number decreases, although the end of the month surpasses its beginning in dignity and benefits.
10) Leaving the night standing for prayers, which are characteristic of the last ten days of Ramadan. When the last ten days came, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stayed awake at night, also woke up his wives, and tied his belt tightly.
11) Stay awake at night, but then wake up for morning prayer and perform it only after sunrise. And this is negligence regarding the prescribed act.
12) Despite the repeated reward for alms these days, a large number of people who need help this month are deprived of their help due to stinginess.
13) Most people ignore the allocation of zakat from their property, while zakat is worship equivalent to prayer and fasting. Although we know that it is not necessary to give zakat during Ramadan.
14) Indifference to prayers to Allah during Ramadan, especially before breaking the fast. After all, the hadith on this matter says that the one who fasts before breaking his fast has a dua that is not rejected.
15) Neglecting the sunnah of constantly staying in the mosque, especially in the last ten days, although it is established by the Koran and Sunnah.
16) The appearance of most perfumed women in the mosque in attractive clothes, which becomes a cause of temptation for men.
17) Make concessions to women by allowing them to travel to shops in the evenings, together with an outside driver, without a mahram. In most cases this happens unnecessarily.
O Allah, let us complete this month with faith and prosperity, in good health and obedience! O Allah, support us during fasting and night prayers! O Allah, make us from those Your slaves whom You will save from the fire of Hell, and from those to whom You grant high degrees of Paradise! Forgive our sins, our parents and all Muslims! Blessings and greetings to our prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions!
Abdul-Malik al-Qasim
“40 lessons for those who found Ramadan”
Translated by the site “Why Islam?”
- Intention is made with the heart, not with the tongue - approx. lane
- This means that he abandoned intimacy with his wives - approx. lane