❀ Actions That Invalidate the Fast According to the Qur’an, Hadith, and the Understanding of the Companions ❀
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salaam (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Fasting is a great act of worship. It is not limited to abstaining from food and drink alone but serves as a powerful reminder to refrain from all evil and impermissible deeds. There are certain acts that are strictly prohibited during fasting, and committing them invalidates the fast.
Below is a detailed explanation of such actions in the light of the Qur’an, Prophetic traditions (Ahadith), and the understanding of the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم):
Qur’anic Reference:
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ
(Al-Baqarah: 187)
This verse clearly states that eating and drinking after the break of dawn invalidates the fast.
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If someone forgets and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is Allah Who fed him and gave him drink."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6669, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1155)
Ruling:
If someone deliberately eats or drinks, their fast is nullified. However, if done forgetfully, the fast remains valid.
Qur’anic Reference:
فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
(Al-Baqarah: 187)
This verse shows that intercourse is allowed during the nights of Ramadan, but doing so during the day breaks the fast.
Hadith:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
"I am ruined!"
The Prophet ﷺ asked: "What happened?"
He replied: "I had intercourse with my wife while fasting."
The Prophet ﷺ then instructed him to:
• Free a slave,
• Or fast for two consecutive months,
• Or feed sixty poor people.
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1936, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1111)
Ruling:
Engaging in sexual intercourse during fasting invalidates the fast and expiation (kaffārah) is obligatory.
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever is overcome by vomiting does not need to make up the fast. But whoever vomits intentionally must make it up."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2380, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 720)
Ruling:
If vomiting occurs unintentionally, the fast remains valid. However, intentional vomiting breaks the fast, and making it up (qaḍāʼ) becomes obligatory.
Hadith:
Narrated by ʿĀʼishah (رضي الله عنها):
"We were commanded to make up the fasts (missed due to menstruation) but not the prayers."
(Saḥīḥ Muslim: 335)
Ruling:
A woman cannot fast during menstruation or postnatal bleeding, and she must make up the missed fasts afterward.
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink, but also from bad manners and sins."
(Saḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1903)
Ruling:
If masturbation leads to ejaculation, the fast is nullified, and making it up is required.
According to Al-Mughnī (3/128):
"If a man kisses or touches his wife and ejaculates, then his fast is invalidated."
Ruling:
If a person deliberately stimulates desire leading to ejaculation, the fast is invalidated, and qaḍāʼ is obligatory.
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The one who performs cupping and the one who gets cupped both break their fast."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2367, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 774)
Ruling:
Deliberately removing large amounts of blood can invalidate the fast. However, minor bleeding, such as a nosebleed or tooth extraction, does not break the fast.
These are the actions that invalidate fasting as per the Qur’an, authentic Ahadith, and the understanding of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If a person does not refrain from false speech and acting upon it, then Allah is not in need of him abstaining from food and drink."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1903)
🕊 True Fasting:
We must observe the external conditions of fasting, but more importantly, we must also guard our souls from sins and maintain spiritual integrity.
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salaam (ḥafiẓahullāh)❖ Introduction
Fasting is a great act of worship. It is not limited to abstaining from food and drink alone but serves as a powerful reminder to refrain from all evil and impermissible deeds. There are certain acts that are strictly prohibited during fasting, and committing them invalidates the fast.
Below is a detailed explanation of such actions in the light of the Qur’an, Prophetic traditions (Ahadith), and the understanding of the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم):
① Eating and Drinking Invalidates the Fast
Qur’anic Reference:
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ
(Al-Baqarah: 187)
This verse clearly states that eating and drinking after the break of dawn invalidates the fast.
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If someone forgets and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is Allah Who fed him and gave him drink."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6669, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1155)
Ruling:
If someone deliberately eats or drinks, their fast is nullified. However, if done forgetfully, the fast remains valid.
② Engaging in Intercourse with One’s Wife
Qur’anic Reference:
فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
(Al-Baqarah: 187)
This verse shows that intercourse is allowed during the nights of Ramadan, but doing so during the day breaks the fast.
Hadith:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
"I am ruined!"
The Prophet ﷺ asked: "What happened?"
He replied: "I had intercourse with my wife while fasting."
The Prophet ﷺ then instructed him to:
• Free a slave,
• Or fast for two consecutive months,
• Or feed sixty poor people.
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1936, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1111)
Ruling:
Engaging in sexual intercourse during fasting invalidates the fast and expiation (kaffārah) is obligatory.
③ Inducing Vomiting Intentionally
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever is overcome by vomiting does not need to make up the fast. But whoever vomits intentionally must make it up."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2380, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 720)
Ruling:
If vomiting occurs unintentionally, the fast remains valid. However, intentional vomiting breaks the fast, and making it up (qaḍāʼ) becomes obligatory.
④ Fasting During Menstruation or Postnatal Bleeding
Hadith:
Narrated by ʿĀʼishah (رضي الله عنها):
"We were commanded to make up the fasts (missed due to menstruation) but not the prayers."
(Saḥīḥ Muslim: 335)
Ruling:
A woman cannot fast during menstruation or postnatal bleeding, and she must make up the missed fasts afterward.
⑤ Masturbation (Istimnāʼ)
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink, but also from bad manners and sins."
(Saḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1903)
Ruling:
If masturbation leads to ejaculation, the fast is nullified, and making it up is required.
⑥ Deliberate Ejaculation Through Touch or Kissing
According to Al-Mughnī (3/128):
"If a man kisses or touches his wife and ejaculates, then his fast is invalidated."
Ruling:
If a person deliberately stimulates desire leading to ejaculation, the fast is invalidated, and qaḍāʼ is obligatory.
⑦ Deliberately Drawing Out Blood (Cupping/Hijāmah)
Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The one who performs cupping and the one who gets cupped both break their fast."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2367, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 774)
Ruling:
Deliberately removing large amounts of blood can invalidate the fast. However, minor bleeding, such as a nosebleed or tooth extraction, does not break the fast.
Conclusion
These are the actions that invalidate fasting as per the Qur’an, authentic Ahadith, and the understanding of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If a person does not refrain from false speech and acting upon it, then Allah is not in need of him abstaining from food and drink."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1903)
🕊 True Fasting:
We must observe the external conditions of fasting, but more importantly, we must also guard our souls from sins and maintain spiritual integrity.
