Things that invalidate fasting

Things that invalidate fasting

Dr. Ibrahim ibn Fahd ibn Ibrahim Al Wad`an

Selections from the words of Sheikh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymain (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul)

Scholars call them "Mufattirat" or things that corrupt fasting which are eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, vomiting, cupping, menstruation, and post child-birth bleeding. These things are mentioned explicitly in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, however there are other things that are not mentioned explicitly.

Eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse are explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an in Allah's Saying: "So, now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allâh has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night." [Surat Al Baqarah: 187].

Vomit is mentioned explicitly in the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) which he reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Whoever unintentionally vomits, he does not have to make up for the fast, but whoever makes himself vomit, has to make up for the fast."

"And whoever vomits deliberately must make up for the fast."

Cupping is also mentioned explicitly in the Prophet's saying: "The cupper and the cupped are breaking their fast."

Menstruation and post child-birth blood invalidate the fast as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Is not it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?"

Scholars have agreed on giving post child-birth bleeding the same ruling of menstruation.

There still some things that are not mentioned explicitly but they have the same ruling of eating and drinking such as nutrition injections which can replace food and drink. Likewise, the discharge of sperm lustfully by man's will breaks the fast because it has the meaning of sexual intercourse because both require complete ritual bathing. Some scholars said that the discharge of sperm is explicitly mentioned as it is the highest degree of lust, where as the meaning of fasting is to abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse as Allah said in the Divine Hadith: "A person leaves his food, drink, and lust for My Sake." So, the discharge of sperm from a fasting person invalidate fasting if he does it by himself. As for the discharge of prostatic fluid even if lustfully, it does not corrupt the fast and cannot take the same ruling of sperm because prostatic fluid does not require complete ritual bathing, and it does not reflect lust.