❖ Other Important Rulings and Issues Related to Fasting ❖
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
If one experiences iḥtilām (a wet dream) during the state of fasting, the fast remains valid and is not broken, because the Shariah has not classified it as something that invalidates the fast.
➤ [Al-Muḥallā bil-Āthār: 4/335]
➤ Shaykh Ibn Jibreen and Ibn Bāz رحمهم الله have also issued fatwas in support of this view.
➤ [Al-Fatāwā al-Islāmiyyah: 2/111, 2/114]
There is no valid evidence that suggests injections break the fast. It is also incorrect to analogize it with food or drink since injections do not reach the stomach through the throat but are absorbed through body tissues (like the effect of kohl through the eyes or water absorbed during a cold bath).
❖ Therefore, injections are permissible, unless explicitly proven otherwise.
✔ However, Hafiz Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf writes:
“Injections are permissible only if they are for treatment, not for nourishment or strength.”
➤ [Ramadan al-Mubārak – Faḍā'il, Fawā'id, Thamarāt: p. 45]
The fast breaks immediately upon the onset of ḥayḍ (menstruation) or nifās (postpartum bleeding), as proven by the ḥadīth:
"Is it not the case that when a woman menstruates, she neither performs ṣalāh nor fasts?"
➤ [Bukhārī: 1951 – Book of Fasting]
The same ruling applies to nifās.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, then Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink.”
➤ [Bukhārī: 1903]
The Prophet ﷺ stated:
“Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink, rather true fasting is to abstain from vain talk and obscene behavior.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1996]
He also said:
“Many who fast get nothing from their fast except thirst.”
➤ [Mishkāt: 626/1; Aḥmad: 2/441; Dārimī: 6/27]
It is permissible to begin the fast while in a state of janābah, as narrated from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“The Prophet ﷺ would be in a state of janābah at the time of fajr due to sexual relations with his wives, then he would take a ghusl and continue fasting.”
➤ [Bukhārī: 1926; Muslim: 1109]
Both are permissible during fasting, as proven by authentic narrations.
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2089; Aḥmad: 1/21]
It is sunnah to pour water over oneself in extreme heat while fasting.
➤ "The Prophet ﷺ was seen pouring water over his head due to the heat while he was fasting."
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2072]
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:
"Exaggerate in rinsing the nose unless you are fasting."
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 631; Ibn Mājah: 407]
A narration states:
“Indeed, the fasting person has a supplication at the time of ifṭār that is not rejected.”
➤ [Ḍaʿīf: Ibn Mājah: 387; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 921]
Note: Though weak, the meaning is supported by other narrations.
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ would break his fast with fresh dates before performing maghrib prayer. If not available, then with dry dates, and if those were not available, then with a few sips of water.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2065]
The following duʿāʾ is authentically reported:
❖ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
➤ [Abū Dāwūd – Mursal; Al-Albānī: strengthened by supporting chains – Mishkāt: 1994]
However, the version:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
is not proven from any authentic narration.
After completing the meal, the following duʿāʾ should be recited:
❖ ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
➤ [Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2066]
Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever provides ifṭār to a fasting person will receive the same reward without decreasing the reward of the fasting person.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 647; Ibn Mājah: 1746]
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✦ Ruling on Experiencing a Nocturnal Emission (Iḥtilām) While Fasting
If one experiences iḥtilām (a wet dream) during the state of fasting, the fast remains valid and is not broken, because the Shariah has not classified it as something that invalidates the fast.
➤ [Al-Muḥallā bil-Āthār: 4/335]
➤ Shaykh Ibn Jibreen and Ibn Bāz رحمهم الله have also issued fatwas in support of this view.
➤ [Al-Fatāwā al-Islāmiyyah: 2/111, 2/114]
✦ Taking Injections While Fasting
There is no valid evidence that suggests injections break the fast. It is also incorrect to analogize it with food or drink since injections do not reach the stomach through the throat but are absorbed through body tissues (like the effect of kohl through the eyes or water absorbed during a cold bath).
❖ Therefore, injections are permissible, unless explicitly proven otherwise.
✔ However, Hafiz Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf writes:
“Injections are permissible only if they are for treatment, not for nourishment or strength.”
➤ [Ramadan al-Mubārak – Faḍā'il, Fawā'id, Thamarāt: p. 45]
✦ Fasting and the Onset of Menstruation or Postpartum Bleeding
The fast breaks immediately upon the onset of ḥayḍ (menstruation) or nifās (postpartum bleeding), as proven by the ḥadīth:
"Is it not the case that when a woman menstruates, she neither performs ṣalāh nor fasts?"
➤ [Bukhārī: 1951 – Book of Fasting]
The same ruling applies to nifās.
✦ Abstaining from Lying While Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, then Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink.”
➤ [Bukhārī: 1903]
✦ Avoiding Useless Talk and Indecent Speech
The Prophet ﷺ stated:
“Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink, rather true fasting is to abstain from vain talk and obscene behavior.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1996]
He also said:
“Many who fast get nothing from their fast except thirst.”
➤ [Mishkāt: 626/1; Aḥmad: 2/441; Dārimī: 6/27]
✦ Fasting in the State of Janābah (Major Impurity)
It is permissible to begin the fast while in a state of janābah, as narrated from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“The Prophet ﷺ would be in a state of janābah at the time of fajr due to sexual relations with his wives, then he would take a ghusl and continue fasting.”
➤ [Bukhārī: 1926; Muslim: 1109]
✦ Kissing One’s Wife and Rinsing the Mouth While Fasting
Both are permissible during fasting, as proven by authentic narrations.
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2089; Aḥmad: 1/21]
✦ Bathing Due to Heat While Fasting
It is sunnah to pour water over oneself in extreme heat while fasting.
➤ "The Prophet ﷺ was seen pouring water over his head due to the heat while he was fasting."
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2072]
✦ Do Not Overdo Nasal Rinsing While Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:
"Exaggerate in rinsing the nose unless you are fasting."
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 631; Ibn Mājah: 407]
✦ Supplicating at the Time of Iftār
A narration states:
“Indeed, the fasting person has a supplication at the time of ifṭār that is not rejected.”
➤ [Ḍaʿīf: Ibn Mājah: 387; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 921]
Note: Though weak, the meaning is supported by other narrations.
✦ With What Should One Break the Fast?
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ would break his fast with fresh dates before performing maghrib prayer. If not available, then with dry dates, and if those were not available, then with a few sips of water.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2065]
✦ Duʿāʾ for Breaking the Fast
The following duʿāʾ is authentically reported:
❖ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
➤ [Abū Dāwūd – Mursal; Al-Albānī: strengthened by supporting chains – Mishkāt: 1994]
However, the version:اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
is not proven from any authentic narration.
After completing the meal, the following duʿāʾ should be recited:
❖ ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
➤ [Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2066]
✦ Reward for Feeding a Fasting Person
Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever provides ifṭār to a fasting person will receive the same reward without decreasing the reward of the fasting person.”
➤ [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 647; Ibn Mājah: 1746]
