Medical Ruling in Fasting

Imam Khamenei

Question 1: Does phlegm from one’s throat invalidate one’s fast?

Answer: If it does not reach one’s mouth it does not invalidate one’s fast.

Question 2: What rulings does unnecessarily taking a vitamin rich injection have in regard to fasting?

Answer: Injections that are used in place of food invalidate the fast.

Question 3: Does putting inedible objects such as dentist equipment into one’s mouth invalidate one’s fast?

Answer: As long as nothing reaches one’s throat one’s fast does not become invalid.

Question 4: While fasting, is it permissible to brush one’s teeth? What is the ruling if the toothbrush has become wet and the wetness mixes with one’s saliva?

Answer: There is no problem in it, but the wetness that enters one’s mouth must not reach one’s throat.

Question 5: Some people who have asthma must use a spray in order to help them breathe. What is the ruling regarding these people and fasting?

Answer: If something enters their throat that is not pure breath, their fast would be invalidated.

Question 6: A doctor forbade a patient from fasting, but the patient knows that fasting is not harmful for him. What is the ruling regarding this?

Answer: If he knows that fasting is not harmful for him then he must fast.

Ayatollah Sistani

Question 1: What is the Islamic ruling about someone who is suffering from a disease? How should he go about fasting?

Answer: He who fears for himself of falling ill as a result of fasting is not required to fast. Nor is he who believes that fasting would worsen his poor state of health in any way, be it hampering his recovery or increasing his pain. This should, however, be commensurate with what is generally accepted in these circumstances. If he fears that fasting might be harmful to him, it is permissible to break his fast. And if his illness continues until the next Ramadhan, Qadha is not obligatory but he should give 750 grams of food (wheat, flour or bread or any kind of food) for each day to poor Shia. If he recovers within the same year, only Qadha is obligatory on him and he will not have to pay kaffara. As for a patient whose health is not affected by fasting, he must fast and his fasting is in order.

Question 2: I am suffering from a problem with my kidney. Dehydration will affect my kidney and worsen my health problem. What is my duty about fasting?

Answer: You cannot fast in the said case. If your problem continues until the next Ramadhan, Qadha is also not obligatory either but in its place  you should give one mudd of food stuffs as fidya for each day. One mudd is equal to 750 grams.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Persons upon whom fasting is not obligatory

Issue 1: Elderly men and women whom fasting is difficult for them; they are able to abandon fasting. However, they are required to give one Mudd (Approximately 750 Grams) of wheat or barley and similar to these to an indigent. It is better that in the place of wheat and barley, bread is selected. In this situation, the obligatory precaution of this is that it is in the measure of wheat is in the quantity of one Mudd.

Issue 2: The fast of persons who are inflicted with the illness of being constantly and excessively thirsty and they are not able to fast or it is extremely difficult for them, it is not obligatory. However, for each day one Mudd of food, which is indicated in the previous issue, is given as a Kaffaarah. It is better that water is not drunk in more than the quantity of necessity. If, afterward, they are able to make the Qadhaa’, the obligatory precaution is to perform the Qadhaa’.

Issue 3: A pregnant woman who is close to delivery and fasting has injury to the pregnancy, fasting for her is not obligatory. However, the Kaffaarah mentioned in the previous issue is required to be given. Regarding if the fast is injurious to her, it is not obligatory for her and she also has no Kaffaarah. Afterward, she makes Qadhaa’.

Issue 4: Women who are (breast) feeding a child milk, whether they be the mother of the child or a wet nurse. If fasting is reason of her insufficient milk and the child becomes bothered, the fast is not obligatory upon her. However, for each day, the same Kaffaarah (one Mudd of food) is obligatory and afterward also the Qadhaa’ of the fast is required. Regarding, that if for themselves fasting is injurious, no fasting is obligatory nor any Kaffaarah. However, it is required afterward that the fasts which were not performed, the Qadhaa’ is performed.