Fasting and the Doctor's office

by Asma bint Shameem

1. Can I get a blood test done while fasting?

YES.

Drawing a few vials of blood for testing purposes does NOT invalidate the fast because the blood is only a small amount.

That includes taking blood to check sugar levels.

If it was a larger amount like in cupping, donating blood, etc. then that would break the fast according to the majority of the scholars.

🍃Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

““The fasting person does not break the fast by having blood taken for a test. If the doctor needs to take blood from the patient to test it, this does not break the fast, because it is a small amount of blood and it does not affect the body in the way that cupping does. 

The basic principle is that the fast remains valid and cannot be spoiled except by things for which there is Shar’i evidence that they affect the fast. In this case there is no evidence that the fasting person breaks his fast because of this small amount of blood.”

(Fatawa Arkan al-Islam, p. 478)

2. Injections?

Any type of injection whether intravenous or intramuscular, are ALLOWED during fasting EXCEPT those injections that will provide nourishment to the body and act indirectly as food and give energy.

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said: 

“It is permissible to give medicine by means of intramuscular or intravenous injections for one who is fasting during the day in Ramadhaan, but it is not permissible for one who is fasting to be given a nutritional injection during the day in Ramadhaan, because that comes under the same ruling as consuming food or drink, so taking these injections is regarded as a kind of loophole in Ramadhaan.

If it is possible to give the intramuscular or intravenous injection at night, that is preferable.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah 10/252) 

3. Vaccines?

Receiving vaccines during the fast is permissible.

That’s because the injections that invalidate the fast are those that provide food or nutrition to the body.

And vaccines do not provide food or nutrition to the body.

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“The scholars include under the heading of that which breaks the fast anything that is akin to food and drink, such as injection of nutrients. Injections that energize the body or heal it are not regarded as nutrients; rather injection of nutrients means that which takes a place of food and drink.

Based on that, any injection that does not take the place of food and drink does not break the fast, whether it is injected into a vein, or into the thigh, or into any other place.”

(Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-‘Uthaymeen 19/199)

4. Eyedrops? Ear drops?

It’s allowed to use any of these.

Just avoid swallowing anything if it reaches the throat. just to be on the safe side.

But if you can’t spit it out, the fast is still valid.

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was of the view that kohl does not break the fast, not even if the taste of the kohl reaches the throat.

He said, this is not called food or drink, and it is not like food or drink, and it does not have the same effect as food or drink. 

There is no saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam which expressly indicates that kohl breaks the fast, and the basic principle is that it does not break the fast.

An act of worship remains valid unless it is proven that it is invalidated.

What he said is correct, even if a person can taste it in his throat. Based on the view favored by Shaykh al-Islam, if a person puts drops in his eyes whilst fasting and tastes it in his throat, that does not break his fast.” (Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/382)

5. Nose drops or sprays?

Nose drops usually reach the back of the throat, so it’s not allowed to use nasal drops while fasting.

🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Nose drops are not permissible, because the nose is an opening through which food and drink may enter the body.

Hence the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Snuff water up into the nose deeply, UNLESS you are fasting.”

The one who does that has to make up the fast because of this hadeeth and similar reports, if he finds the taste of that in his throat.”

6. Ultrasound?

Ultrasound and X-ray by themselves don't have any effect on the fast itself.

BUT if the ultrasound test requires that you drink water or a liquid before the test then if you can delay the test till after Ramadhaan that's better.

Or at least delay it until after maghrib if possible.

BUT if it's something urgent, then you're allowed to break your fast for that day if you need to drink water for the test.

7. At the gynecologist's office:

Pap smears, gynecological exams, insertion or extraction of IUD, medication, pessaries, etc do NOT invalidate the fast.

And ghusl is NOT due after such procedures.

🍃The scholars of the Standing Committee said regarding inserting of an ultrasound device into the private area of a woman:

“that does not require ghusl from janaabah, and it does not invalidate fasting.”

(Al-Fataawa Al-Jaami’ah, Part 1, P. 50)

8. At the dentist's office:

Dental procedures like tooth extractions, root canals, fillings, cleaning, polishing the teeth etc. do NOT invalidate the fast, in and of themselves.

But if water goes into the throat, it will invalidate the fast.

So be be careful not to swallow any water or rinsing material used during the procedure.

And of course if you can delay it till after Ramadhaan, that’s better.

🍃The Islamic Fiqh Council said:

“Firstly: The following things are not regarded as breaking the fast:

…Having a tooth drilled, or having a tooth extracted, or having the teeth cleaned, or using a siwaak or toothbrush, so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.”

(Majallat Majma‘ al-Fiqh al-Islami)

9. Fasting and inhalers

If someone suffers from asthma or other diseases where inhalers are used, they’re allowed to use it and this does not break their fast.

That’s because the medicine is going into their lungs and not into the stomach.

🍃Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

“The puffer used for asthma does not invalidate the fast because it is a pressurized gas that goes to the lungs, and is not food, and it is something that is always needed, in Ramadhaan and at other times.”

(Fataawa al-Da’wah, Ibn Baaz, no. 979)

As for nebulizers and steam, there’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about that.

The scholars said that steam will break the fast, if the steam is a LOT and you find it in the form of water in your nose or mouth.

But if it’s a small amount, it does not break the fast.

So it’s best to avoid inhaling steam to be on the safe side.

However applying balm or Vick’s to the nose area (without steam) is permissible.

10. Fasting and sublingual medicines

Any medicine that’s placed under the tongue (such as for chest pain, etc) is allowed during fasting as it’s absorbed through the membrane of the mouth and does not enter the stomach.

🍃The Islamic Fiqh Council said:

“The following things are not regarded as breaking the fast: medicines that are placed under the tongue to treat angina pectoris and other problems, so long as one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.”

(Majallat Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami 10/2/96, 454)

11. Suppositories?

Suppositories do not break the fast unless they somehow provide “nutrition” to the body.

Generally speaking suppositories do not come under the same heading as food and drink.

🍃Ibn Tayimiyah said

“Application of kohl and enemas do not invalidate the fast… this is the view of some of the scholars.”

(al-Ikhtiyarat p. 193)

🍃Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“The most correct view concerning this matter is the view of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah – i.e. that an enema does not invalidate the fast.”

(al-Sharh al-Mumti’ 6/381)

And Allaah knows best.