The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 1340- If a person wishes to fast, it would be better for him to wash his teeth and use a toothpick before the fajr adhān. And if he knows that some particles of food have remained in between his teeth which will go down into his stomach during the day, the obligatory precaution is that he must clean his teeth and use a toothpick. If he does not wash his teeth and something enters the throat, he should complete the fast of that day and later perform it as qaḍā.

Issue No. 1341- Swallowing saliva does not invalidate fast, although it may have collected in one’s mouth owing to one’s thinking about sour things. There is no harm in swallowing one’s phlegm or mucous from the head and chest so long as it does not come up to one’s mouth. However, if it reaches one’s mouth, the obligatory precaution is that one should not swallow it.

Issue No. 1342- Chewing food to feed a child or tasting food, etc., or washing the mouth with water or a medicine will not invalidate the fast, if it is not swallowed. If it happens to reach the throat involuntarily, there would be no problem in it. However, if a person knows beforehand that it will reach there involuntarily, his fast will be void and he will have to make up that fast in addition to offering kaffāra (atonement).

Issue No. 1343- If a person observing fast becomes so thirsty that he will not be able to bear it and fears that he may become sick or die, he can drink water as much as it is necessary, however, his fast will become void, and if it is the month of Ramadan, he should, for the rest of the day, refrain from all invalidators of the fast.

Issue No. 1344- A person cannot terminate the fast on account of weakness. However, if his weakness is to such an extent that fasting becomes totally unbearable, there is no harm in breaking the fast. Also, he can break his fast, if he fears that he may become sick.

Issue No. 1346- If a person forgets that he is in the state of fasting and performs sexual intercourse or he is compelled to have sexual intercourse in such a situation that leaves him no option but to do so, his fast does not become void. However, if he remembers that while having sexual intercourse or the compulsion ends, he should withdraw from the sexual intercourse at once, and if he does not do so, his fast becomes void.

Issue No. 1347- If a person, who is observing fast, performs masturbation (Istimna), his fast becomes void. If semen is discharged involuntarily, while sleeping or awake, his fast does not become void.

Issue No. 1348- If a person who is fasting knows that if he sleeps during the daytime he will have a seminal discharge during sleep, it is permissible for him to sleep during the day, and in case there is a discharge, his fast does not become void.

Issue No. 1353- If a person who is fasting entertains himself romantically in a sexual manner with his wife without intending to discharge semen; if he is not used to having semen discharged as a result of playing and joking to this extent and semen is discharged unexpectedly, his fast is correct.

Issue No. 1354- If a person, who is observing fast, intentionally ascribes something false to Allah and the Prophet (pbuh) and his vicegerent (a.s.), verbally or in writing or by making a sign, his fast becomes void , as an obligatory precaution, even if he may at once repent for it. The same ruling also applies to imputing lies to all the other prophets and to Fatima Zahra (a.s.).

Issue No. 1361- If thick dust rises up by the wind or sweeping the ground, and a person does not take care in spite of taking notice of it, resulting in the dust reaching his throat, his fast will be void, as was explained in the previous issue.

Issue No. 1362- It is necessary for all people to avoid smoking and consumption of tobacco products at all times. In addition, it will invalidate fast as an obligatory precaution. Also, as an obligatory precaution, one should not allow thick vapour reach one’s throat. However, there is no harm in taking a bath, although vapour may have filled the room.