In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon our master Muhammad, the seal of prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

Resolution No. 219 (3/23)

on

Invalidators of Fasting in the field of Therapeutics

(a Completion of the Previous Resolution)

The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held its twenty-third Session in al-Madinah al-Munawarah on 19-23 Safar 1440, corresponding to 28 October-01 November 2018.

Achieving the resolution of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy N 93(1/10) on Invalidators of Fasting in the Field of Therapeutics, that identified the issues required for research in this Session, which are the following:

1-Asthma inhaler.

2-Bloodletting and cupping.

3-Blood extraction for laboratory examination, donation, or reception.

4-Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

5-Devices penetrating the anus, such as enema, suppositories or endoscopes.

6-General anesthesia surgeries.

After the Council reviewed the research papers submitted to the Academy on the subject and after listening to the extensive discussions.

Resolves the following

– Invalidators are deliberate acts of eating, drinking, marital intercourse (and so forth), and vomiting.

-The inner part of the body which invalidates fasting due to what reaches it, is: whatever exceeds the throat to the digestive system, and reaches the stomach whether it is nutritious or non-nutritious and by usual or unusual methods.

A- Non-Invalidators of Fasting:

1-Asthma inhaler does not affect the validity of fasting, as it targets the respiratory system, and the amount of its medication reaching the stomach is superficial, forgivable, unintentional, and is lesser than what reaches the stomach from the remains of mouth rinsing during ablutions and from brushing teeth with miswak (natural arak toothbrush).

2-Blood extraction for laboratory analysis or donation.

3-Anything entering through the anus such as injections, suppositories, endoscopes, and ointments, except for nutrient injections.

4-Hunger suppressant plasters.

5-Liposuction unless accompanied by nutrient fluids.

6-Endoscopes or finger medical examination.

7-Fasd (bloodletting/phlebotomy) and hijama (wet cupping).

8-Loss of consciousness due to general anesthesia during a part of the day, even if unconsciousness persists the remaining time of the day, and if anesthesia has been performed during fasting, and has not been accompanied by fluids.

B- Invalidators of Fasting:

1-Whatever enters the digestive system, exceeds the mouth and pharynx and digests food, i.e. esophagus and intestines.

2-Whatever nurtures the body of the fasting person, through any natural outlet, such as nutrient injections, because it falls within the realm of nourishment, and it contradicts the high purpose of fasting.

3- Respiratory gas humidification for the treatment of asthma is an invalidator because the amount reaching the stomach is much larger than the forgivable amount.

4- Blood transfusion as it contains a large quantity of water.

5-Hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis because they transmit a large amount of water, salts, and sucrose.

6-Asthma inhaler capsules containing a dry powder because a portion from it reaches the stomach.

Recommendations

1-Doctors play a critical role in determining the necessity or the need for the execution of therapeutic or diagnostic interventions which may invalidate fasting. If such a procedure is not necessary and can be postponed to the time of non-fasting, the doctor must point this out to his patient.

2-Work on raising patients’ awareness of whatever pertains to their acts of worship in a correct and rewarded manner based on Shariah. Also, call to consult reliable scholars to clarify confusions and issues they may encounter during fasting.

3-Inform and advise renal failure patients who are unexpected of recovery, to drop fasting in order to preserve their health, that they are excused, and should pay a fidya (compensation) of feeding a needy person per every day that has not been fasted.

Allah Knows Best