There are nine acts which invalidate fast:
1. Eating and drinking 2. Sexual intercourse 3. Masturbation (Istimna) which means self abuse, resulting in ejaculation 4. Ascribing false things to Almighty Allah, or his Prophet or to the successors of the Holy Prophet 5. Swallowing thick dust 6. Immersing one''s complete head in water 7. Remaining in Janabat or Haidh or Nifas till the Adhan for Fajr prayers 8. Enema with liquids 9. Vomiting Important Questions &
Answers
1.
Question: Is smoking permissible during Ramadhan fast?
Answer:
It is not permissible as an obligatory precaution.
2.
Question: What is your ruling on washing the teeth with brush and toothpaste?
Answer:
Washing the teeth with brush and toothpaste does not invalidate the fast as long as the person does not swallow the saliva that has mixed with the toothpaste. However, the lingering flavor or taste of the paste that mixes with the saliva does not affect the fasting.
3.
Question: Does phlegm, which is developed in the throat, invalidate fast?
Answer:
It is preferable for the fasting person not to swallow phlegm that has reached the mouth, although it is permissible for him to swallow it. Similarly, it is permissible for him to swallow the saliva that has gathered in the mouth, even in large quantities.
4.
Question: In some cities, the sun does not rise at all for days or does not set at all for days or even more. How should we pray and fast?
Answer:
As for salat, one should, as a matter of obligatory precaution, observe the closest place that has night and day in a twenty-four hour period, then say salat according to its timings with the intention of mutlaqa [i.e., just qurbatan ilal lah without specifying whether it is ada (on time) or qadha (after time)].
As for fasting, it is obligatory upon you to move during the month of Ramadhan to another city where you can observe fasting of this holy month, or move to that city after that month to perform it qadha.
5.
Question: Would use of a nozzle spray that facilitates breathing invalidate the fast?
Answer:
If the spray that comes out of the nozzle enters the respiratory tract and not the passage of food and drink, it does not invalidate fast.
6.
Question: Does the nutrition given, intravenously invalidate fast irrespective of whether or not it was absolutely necessary for the patient?
Answer:
In both the cases, it does not invalidate the fasting.
7.
Question: Does masturbating during daytime of Ramadhan invalidate the fast, regardless of whether or not it leads to ejaculation? What is the penalty that should be incurred by one who does so? What is the ruling for a woman who engages in masturbation during daytime of Ramadhan, irrespective of whether or not it leads to discharge?
Answer:
If a person masturbates with the intention of ejaculating and actually ejaculates, his fast is rendered invalid and he must make it up by way of qadha as well as pay the penalty (kaffara) which is fasting for two successive months or feeding sixty poor people. If he masturbates with the intention of ejaculating but does not ejaculate, he must complete the fast with the intention of pleasing the Almighty and then do it qadha. If he masturbates without the intention of ejaculating and he does not normally ejaculate, knowing that discharge is probable and it actually happens he has to do qadha without the penalty. However, if such a person was confident that no discharge would take place and it actually happens no qadha is required. In all these cases, there is no difference between a man and a woman.
8.
Question: I have converted to Shia religion Al-hamdu Lillah and I am living with my Sunni parents who do not know about my new faith. I have been staying away and avoiding breaking my fast with them because I know that Sunnis break their fast some minutes earlier than Shiites. My question is, what if on some occasions I cannot avoid being out of my house? Can I break my fast with my parents?
Answer:
You cannot break your fast unless you are sure that it is the right time to break your fast. If you are unsure, you must wait until you are certain.
9.
Question: A believer fasts but does not know that intentionally getting into state of janabat invalidates fastingwhat should he do [when he finds out]?
Answer: It is obligatory on him to make up those fasts; however, there is no penalty on him as long as he was [erroneously] convinced that being in a state of janabat does not invalidate fast or was unaware of that ruling.
10.
Question: If the new moon is sighted in the East, does it apply to us also in the West? And if it is sighted in America, does it apply to Europe also?
Answer:
If the new moon is sighted in the East, it also applies to the West as long as the latitude of the two locations are not greatly further away from one another. If the new moon is sighted in the West, it does not apply to the East unless it is proveneven by the moon staying on the first [Western] horizon for the length of time that is longer than the difference between the sunset of the two locations. [For example, if the sunset in the Eastern city was half an hour before the Western city where the moon was sighted, and the moon stays on the horizon longer than half an hour the Eastern city can follow the moon sighted in the Western city.]
11.
Question:
I did not know whether it will be the start of Ramadhan, and I intend to fast tomorrow. How would this day be treated?
Answer:
You make your niyyah as though this day was of Sha''ban. If, however, during the day it was announced that it was the first day of Ramadhan, you rectify the niyyah and your fast shall be in order; i.e. there shall be no need for you to fast instead.
12.
Question: Should someone fear that fasting may harm them, what should they do?
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.
13.
Question:
I am ill now and I cannot fast. What should I do, if my illness continues until the next Ramadhan. How should I go about it?
Answer:
You won''t be required to do qadha, if your illness continues until the next Ramadhan. Instead, fidya (redemption from certain religious obligations by a material donation or ritual act), becomes due. In this case, you should give to the poor by way of sadaqah 750 gm of food for each day that you missed.
14.
Question:
If smoke or dust goes into a person''s throat beyond his control, will it invalidate his fast?
Answer:
It wouldn''t invalidate his fast.
15.
Question : I was asleep during the day, and dreamed having a sexual intercourse precipitating ejaculation . What should I do?
Answer:
The emission of semen in this case should not render the fast invalid. It should be in order, even without performing ghusl.
16.
Question : Can I dip my head in water , taking precautions, in the process, not to let water find its way to my stomach?
Answer:
Yes, you can do that, albeit it is absolutely makrooh (abominable).
17.
Question:
While observing fast, can I rinse my mouth with water without swallowing it?
Answer : Yes, you can do that. If, however, the intention of rinsing was to seek cooling off and the water found its way to your stomach, you should make up for that day (qadha). Yet, if you swallowed the water unknowingly, you don''t have to do qadha.
18.
Question: What is your fatwa about a person who sets out for a journey after Zawal (mid-day)?
Answer:
If he sets out for a journey after zawaal, [he should continue with his fast]. Should he set out before dawn, he should not fast.
19.
Question: Would the sighting of the new moon in cities in the East like Iran, Ahsa, Qataf [both in Arabia], other countries in the Gulf, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon necessarily be followed by its sighting in Western countries like England, France and Germany if there were no barriers like clouds and fog?
Answer:
Yes, the sighting of the new moon in an area would necessarily be followed provided there were no barriers in places which are located to its west as long as they are not far apart on the latitude lines.
20.
Question: If the answer to the previous question is positive, would the occurrence of the sighting of the new moon in the view of some religious scholars in Eastern countries be a sufficient evidence for one who is residing in Western countries even though the sighting of the new moon did not occur in those places for lack of clear skies?
Answer:
It will not be a sufficient evidence for him or for others. However, if the occurrence of the sighting from the view point of those religious scholars attracts trustworthiness in that person that the moon was actually sighted or proof was established about the sighting without any counter proof even in the form of a ruling that person can act on what he believes is true.
21.
Question: During certain months, it is declared that the sighting has been proven according to some religious scholars in some Eastern countries. This is based on the testimony of those who have sighted the new moon. Such declarations are usually coupled with the following facts:
a.
The witnesses who sighted the moon and who number around thirty, for example, are scattered in various cities such as 2 in Isfahan, 3 in Qum, 2 in Yazd, 4 in Kuwait, 5 in Bahrain, 2 in Ahsa, and 6 in Syria, etc.
b.
The sky was clear in a number of cities in the West, and the believers went out in the attempt to sight the moon; and there was nothing preventing the sighting.
c.
The observatories in England announced that it was impossible to sight the new moon that evening in England except by using a telescope; and that its sighting with the naked eye would be possible only in the following night. So, what is the ruling in such a case? Please guide us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The criterion is the satisfaction of the individual himself [1] about the actual sighting [of the new moon] or [2] the proof of sighting without any counter claim.
In the case mentioned above, satisfaction is not normally achieved concerning the appearance of the new moon on the horizon in such a way that it could have been sighted by the naked eye. On the contrary, one is satisfied that it was not sighted and that the testimony [of sightings in the Eastern cities] is based on illusion and error in sight. And Allah knows the best.
22.
Question:
How much is the Zakatul Fitr and who should I give it to?
Answer:
The amount of zakatul fitr, per head, is three kg. of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, other foodstuffs, or their value in money. It has to be set aside on the eve of Eid, or on the day of Eid [before prayer, for those who performed it], and up to zawaal for those who did not say the Eid prayer. This should be paid to the poor and the needy, who are eligible to receive income support from monetary tax (zakatul maal). (See Dialogue on Zakat).
It is to be noted, however, that the zakat of those who are not of a Hashimite descent is not halal for the Hashimites.
Zakatul Fitra should not be given to one''s dependants, such as father, mother, wife, and offspring.