Does Using Oxygen Break the Fast?

Authored by: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

Question:​

If a patient experiencing breathing difficulties is given oxygen or other gases for respiratory support, does this invalidate their fast?

Answer:​

Administering oxygen or similar gases to patients with respiratory issues does not break the fast. The reasons for this are as follows:

Reasons Why Oxygen Does Not Break the Fast​

➊ Oxygen is merely air used for breathing restoration:
It does not introduce any food, drink, or nutritional substance into the body, and inhaling air does not invalidate fasting.

➋ Oxygen or respiratory gas does not contain nutritional or medicinal substances:
It only aids in restoring normal breathing.

Expert Opinions:

1. Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Bar:
   
   "The oxygen administered to patients with respiratory difficulties does not contain any nutritional or medicinal components. It is primarily used to assist breathing, which is essential for human life. No scholar considers the inhalation of air or oxygen to invalidate fasting."
   (Majalla Majma' al-Fiqh al-Islami: 240/2/10)
2. Dr. Hassan Shamsi Pasha:
   
   "The oxygen provided to patients contains no nutritional ingredients or other substances that enter the body. It is used solely to restore breathing and does not break the fast."

Conclusion:​

Using oxygen or similar respiratory gases does not invalidate the fast as it does not introduce any substances into the body that would constitute eating, drinking, or nourishment. And Allah knows best.