Source: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
Does tasting food while fasting break the fast?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
If a person tastes food during fasting without swallowing it, then the fast is not invalidated. However, doing so without any valid need is not appropriate.
In cases of necessity—such as:
❀ Checking the salt or spice level in food preparation—
if someone tastes the food without swallowing,
and even if something accidentally enters the stomach without intent,
the fast still remains valid,
as such an act lacks deliberate intent (qaṣd).
① Swallowing anything intentionally breaks the fast.
② Tasting should only be done when genuinely needed.
③ After tasting, the person should immediately spit out the food and rinse the mouth thoroughly to avoid anything going down the throat.
❀ Conclusion:
✔ Tasting food without swallowing it does not break the fast.
✘ It should be avoided unless there is a genuine need.
⚠ If something is swallowed unintentionally, the fast still remains valid.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
✦ The Question
Does tasting food while fasting break the fast?
✦ The Shar‘i Ruling
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
If a person tastes food during fasting without swallowing it, then the fast is not invalidated. However, doing so without any valid need is not appropriate.
✦ When Is It Permissible to Taste Food While Fasting?
In cases of necessity—such as:
❀ Checking the salt or spice level in food preparation—
if someone tastes the food without swallowing,
and even if something accidentally enters the stomach without intent,
the fast still remains valid,
as such an act lacks deliberate intent (qaṣd).
✔ Important Notes:
① Swallowing anything intentionally breaks the fast.
② Tasting should only be done when genuinely needed.
③ After tasting, the person should immediately spit out the food and rinse the mouth thoroughly to avoid anything going down the throat.
❀ Conclusion:
✔ Tasting food without swallowing it does not break the fast.
✘ It should be avoided unless there is a genuine need.
⚠ If something is swallowed unintentionally, the fast still remains valid.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
