Matters that invalidate fasting

1- Intentionally eating or drinking invalidates fasting; this also applies to anything that would strengthen or nourish the body if it reaches the abdomen through any means whether via the mouth, nose, a vein, and so on. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset.} [Quran 2:187] The Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention), said that Allah The Almighty Says about the fasting person in a Qudsi (Sacred) Hadeeth: “He abandoned his food, drink and sexual desire for My sake.” So, fasting is to abandon these matters from the break of dawn until sunset. Hence, whoever consumes any of these things during the day of fasting with his full intention and choice is no longer fasting.

2- Sexual intercourse and foreplay: Sexual intercourse and foreplay invalidate fasting according to evidence from the Quran, Sunnah, and consensus of scholars. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you.} [Quran 2:187] This verse indicates that it is permissible to have sexual relations until the break of dawn and then the spouses should refrain until sunset. If a person has sexual intercourse during the day in Ramadan, his fasting is invalidated and he has to make up for this day and observe expiation for breaching the sacredness of fasting in this month. Scholars have unanimously agreed upon this ruling.

Expiation should be observed in the following order:

  •   Setting free a Muslim slave

  •   If there is no slave to be freed, one should fast two successive months.

  •   If the person cannot fast two successive months, then, he has to feed sixty poor people by giving each poor person one Mudd of food - which equals one fourth of a Saa‘, and this serves as a single meal. This order of expiation is taken from the story of the man who came to the Prophet asking about the consequences of having sexual intercourse in Ramadan while fasting. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "While we were sitting with the Prophet a man came to him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I am ruined!' The Prophet asked: 'What is the matter?' He replied, 'I had sexual intercourse with my wife while fasting.' The Messenger asked him, 'Can you afford to free a slave?' He replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him: 'Can you fast for two successive months?' He also replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him: 'Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?' He replied in the negative. After a while, some dates were brought to the Prophet and he asked: 'Where is the questioner?' He replied, 'I (am here).' The Prophet said (to him): 'Take these (dates) and give them in charity.' The man then said, 'Is there a person poorer than me that I can give them to? By Allah, there is no family between its two mountains (i.e., in Madeenah) who is poorer than mine.' The Prophet smiled till his pre-molar teeth were visible, and said: 'Feed them to your family.'"

This Hadeeth indicates that having sexual intercourse during the day of Ramadan is one of the grave major and destructive sins because the Prophet did not disapprove of the word “ruined” which the man used. If this act had not resulted in ruin, the Prophet would have calmed him down.

3- Ejaculation of semen in the state of wakefulness: through approaching one's wife, kissing, masturbation, and so on, because this happens due to an intentional act.

4- Emitting blood from the body by Hijaamah (cupping) or the like: this breaks the fast of the person because the Prophet said: “The one who does Hijaamah and the one who has it done for him have broken their fast.” Imaams Ahmad and Al-Bukhari said, “This is the most authentic Hadeeth in this regard.” The Hadeeth is a decisive text in considering Hijaamah an invalidator of fasting. This is the opinion of most of the scholars of Fiqh (jurisprudence) among the scholars of Hadeeth such as Ahmad, Is'haaq, Ibn Khuzaymah and others . The scholars of Fiqh in Al-Basrah would shut down the shops of Hijaamah during daytime in Ramadan.

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “There are many Hadeeths clarified by the Imaams on this issue (of considering Hijaamah an invalidator of fasting).” This ruling also applies to procedures similar to Hijaamah such as drawing blood from veins for donation or for other purposes. This could be done at night in order not to break the fast. If there is a need to save a sick or injured person, then the person is excused for breaking his fast and should make up for this day at a later stage.

5- Deliberate vomiting: the Prophet said: “Whoever vomits involuntarily (while fasting) does not have to make up for that day but whoever deliberately makes himself vomit has to make up for that day.”

To be continued …

Important Rulings for the Fasting Person-II