Answered by Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah)
Source: Fataawaa 'Ulamaa' al-Balad al-Haraam, p. 297
Question:
Certain drug stores have inhalers used by some asthmatic people. Is
it permissible for the fasting person to use them (the inhalers)
during the day in Ramadaan?
Answer:
It is permissible for the fasting person to use an inhaler, be it in
Ramadaan or not. The contents of the inhaler does not enter the
stomach. It enters the windpipe and opens (expands it). Following
that people are able to breathe normally again. Therefore it cannot
be compared to food or drink or to food or drink that enters the
stomach.
It is common knowledge that the fast is valid and correct, so long as
there is no proof from the Qur'aan, Sunnah, Ijmaa' or correct analogy
pointing to it being other than that.
Using an Inhaler During for the Fasting Person
Question:
What is the ruling on a fasting person using an inhaler for breathing
problems, and does it break the fast?
Answer:
This spray is vaporised and does not reach the stomach, so in that
case, we say that there is no objection to using it when you are
fasting, and it will not cause you to break your fast, because as we
have said, none of its particles enter the stomach. Since it is
something that is defused and vaporised, and it disappears, then none
of it reaches the stomach, therefore it is permissible for you to use
it when you are fasting and the fast is not invalidated by it.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Fatawa Arkaanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, Vol.2, p.658
www.fatwaislam.com
Guidelines & Fataawa Related to Sickness and Medical Practice page 187
Question:
Does the fast become nullified by the use of an inhaler?
Answer:
It dose not nullify it, so long as you do not swallow it. But do not
use it unless there is absolute necessity, and your fast is not
broken so long as nothing of it goes into your stomach
Shaikh ibn Uthaimeen- Al-Muslimoon
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There follows a list of a number of things used in the medical field, explaining what does and does not break the fast. This is a summary of shar’i research presented to the Islamic Fiqh Council during its regular meetings:
I – The following things do not have any effect on the fast:
Eye drops, ear drops, ear syringing, nose drops and nasal sprays – so long as one avoids swallowing any material that may reach the throat.
Tablets or lozenges that are placed beneath the tongue for the treatment of angina pectoris etc., so long as one avoids swallowing any material that reaches the throat.
Vaginal pessaries, douching, use of a speculum, or internal digital examination.
Introduction of a scope or coil (IUD), etc., into the uterus.
Introduction of a scope or catheter into the urethra (male of female), or injection of dyes for diagnostic imaging, or of medication, or cleaning of the bladder.
Drilling of teeth (prior to filling), extraction or polishing of teeth, using a miswaak or toothbrush, so long as one avoids swallowing any material that reaches the throat.
Rinsing, gargling or applying topical treatment in the mouth, so long as one avoids swallowing any material that reaches the throat.
Injections, whether subcutaneous, intra-muscular or intra-venous – with the exception of those used for purposes of nutrition.
Oxygen.
Anaesthetics, so long as they do not supply nutrition to the patient.
Medicines absorbed through the skin, such as creams, lotions and patches used to administer medication through the skin.
Introduction of a catheter into the veins in order to examine or treat the vessels of the heart or other organs.
Laparoscopy for the purpose of diagnosis or surgical treatment of the abdominal organs.
Biopsies of the liver and other organs, so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of nutrients.
Gastroscopy, so long as this is not accompanied by the administration of nutrients.
Introduction of medicine or instruments into the brain or spinal cord.
Involuntary vomiting (as opposed to self-induced vomiting).
II – The Muslim doctor should advise his patient to postpone the above-described treatments and procedures until after he has broken his fast, if it is safe to do so and will not cause any harm (even if these procedures will not have any effect on his fast).
Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami (Islamic Fiqh Council), p. 213. (
www.islam-qa.com)
Question :
I am going to have two non-invasive medical procedures during the month of Ramadaan, and I am going to take a drug via injection during these two procedures. Will my fast be invalidated by that?.
Answer :
Praise be to Allaah.
Being given medicine via injection does not break the fast, whether it is intramuscular or intravenous, so long as the injected substance does not provide nutrition, because in that case it is like food and drink which are forbidden to the one who is fasting.
It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (10/252):
It is permissible to be given medicine via injection into the muscles or veins when fasting during the day in Ramadaan. But it is not permissible for the fasting person to be given nutrients during the day in Ramadaan, because that comes under the same rulings as consuming food and drink, and this injection is regarded as a means of breaking the fast in Ramadaan. If it is possible to give the injection into a muscle or vein during the night, that is preferable. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the spread of anaesthesia through the body – does that break the fast? And what about the flow of blood when a tooth is extracted?
He replied:
Neither of these breaks the fast, but the blood that flows after removal of a tooth should not be swallowed. End quote.
Fataawa Ramadaan, p. 525
It makes no difference whether it is a local or general anaesthetic. Many of the fuqaha’ have stated that if a person who is unconscious is awake for even a moment of the day, his fast is valid, so long as he formed the intention to fast from the night before.
Imaam al-Shaafa’i said in al-Umm (8/153):
If a man loses consciousness for a day or two days during the month of Ramadaan, and he did not eat or drink anything, then he has to make up those days. But if he was awake for part of the day, then he is regarded as having fasted on that day. End quote.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (4/343):
If he was unconscious for the whole day and did not wake up at all, then his fast is not valid, according to the view of our imam (i.e., Imam Ahmad) and al-Shaafa’i…
If the person who was unconscious woke up for a part of the day, his fast is valid, whether that was at the beginning or the end of the day. End quote.
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There are many kinds of medication for asthma, some of which break the fast and some do not. The most well known of these medicines and treatments are puffers, oxygen, vaporizers and capsules.
The puffer uses a compressed gas that is used by the patient, which reaches the lungs via the trachea to expand the lungs. It is not food or drink or anything resembling them. The scholars of the Standing Committee have ruled that the fast is not broken by using this kind of medicine. This is also the ruling of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and most of our scholars.
See the answer to question no. 37650 for more information on their fatwas.
With regard to oxygen, it too is neither food nor drink. Based on this, it may be used when fasting with no problems.
With regard to vaporizers, these are usually devices which change the medicine – which is usually carried in a sodium base – from liquid to gas and fine particles. The medicine is placed in a small vessel and when the device is activated, air is blown at high speed which causes the medicine to turn into a gaseous form, so it can be inhaled by the patient either via a mask that is placed over the mouth, or by means of a small tube that is placed inside the mouth.
It is inevitable that some drops of water and salt will reach the stomach via this device, and the patient will not be able to avoid that. Based on this, if he uses this method, he should break his fast and he should make up that day later on.
Capsules contain the medicine in the form of a fine powder. These capsules are placed inside a special device which crushes the capsules in order to release the medicine, which is inhaled from the device via the mouth. Using these capsules invalidates the fast, because some of this powder mixes with the saliva and goes down into the stomach.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
Some people have asthma and need to use puffers when fasting. What is the ruling on that?
He replied:
Some people are affected by constriction of breathing which is known as asthma. We ask Allaah to keep us and them safe and sound. Two types of medicine are used, one of which is known as capsules. This type breaks the fast because it is a powder that has substance and can enter the stomach. The fasting person should not use it in Ramadaan except in the case of necessity. If he uses it in the case of necessity then he has broken his fast and may eat and drink for the rest of the day, and make up another day in its place. If it so happens that this sickness is ongoing, then he is like an old man who has to feed one poor person for each day, and he does not have to fast.
The second type of asthma medicine is a gas which contains nothing but air which opens the airways so that the person can breathe easily. This does not break the fast; the fasting person may use it and his fast is valid. End quote.
(19/question no. 159).
The Shaykh (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
There is a person who has asthma and cannot read Qur’aan without using oxygen. Can he use it during the day in Ramadaan?
He replied:
If it is not essential for him to use oxygen, then it is better for him not to use it. The fasting person is not obliged to read Qur’aan such that we would say that he should use it in order to read Qur’aan. But some of those who are afflicted with this sickness say, “I cannot stop using it, and if I do not use it I fear that I may not be able to breathe.” So we say there is nothing wrong with using this oxygen, because according to what we have heard it does not reach the stomach, rather it reaches the veins and makes it easy to breathe. If that is the case, there is nothing wrong with it.
But there is a type of pill that is given to asthma patients, which is a capsule that contains powder. It is not permissible to use this when observing an obligatory fast, because when it is mixed with saliva it reaches the stomach, in which case it breaks the fast. If a person has to use it, then he should break his fast and make up that day later on. If he has to use it all the time, then he should break his fast and feed one poor person for each day. And Allaah knows best.
End quote.
(19/question no. 163).
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/78459/inhaler