The believer is enjoined to do wudoo’ properly. This was the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who said: “Do wudoo’ properly, make water reach between the fingers and toes, and rinse the nose very thoroughly, except when you are fasting.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, al-Sawm, 788; Abu Dawood, 142; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 631).
So he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pointed out that we should avoid excessive rinsing of the mouth and nose when fasting, lest that lead to the thing which is forbidden, namely water getting into the throat whilst fasting..."1
"...Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If a fasting person does any of these things that break the fast without meaning to, then his fast remains valid. If he rinses his mouth and some water reaches his stomach without him meaning it to, then his fast is valid. Majmoo’ al-Fataawa 19.
And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If a gnat flies into the mouth of a fasting person or something enters his mouth without him wanting it to, or he rinses his mouth or nose and some water reaches his throat without him meaning it to, then his fast is still valid and he does not have to make it up. Majaalis Sharh Ramadaan, no. 15.
Based on the above, if the water enters the stomach by accident, then he does not have to do anything, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And there is no sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend”
[al-Ahzaab 33:5]
It should be noted that the fasting person is not allowed to go to extremes in rinsing the nose, so that water will not go down into his stomach by accident. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Go to extremes in rinsing the nose except when you are fasting.”
Question: I am completely confused by the concept of accidental break up of fast and forgetfulness during fasting. Could you please clarify?
Answer: Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahimi
Many people get confused between these three categories. But they are quite simple once one gives it a little thought.
There are three ways that one can break the fast:
a. deliberately
b. accidently or mistakenly, and
c. forgetfully.
Deliberately Breaking the Fast
Breaking one’s fasting deliberately requires a makeup fast and necessitates expiation.
Deliberately means that one remembers that one is fasting and purposely performs a specific action that breaks the fast without an excuse. [ibn Abdin, Radd al-Muhtar]
The specific actions that break the fast in this category are:
1. Purposely eating or drinking something that humans would normally consume and this consummation nourishes, medicates, or pleases the body in some way
2. Purposely performing actual sexual intercourse, in the front or rear private part, regardless if one ejaculated or not
3. Swallowing the saliva of one’s spouse
Accidentally Breaking the Fast
Breaking one’s fast accidently requires a makeup fast but does not necessitate expiation. This also applies to actions that one was coerced to do.
Accidentally means that one remembers that one is fasting but broke the fast by one’s own doing without the intention to purposely break the fast. [Tahtawi, Hashiya al-Tahtawi; Related in Radd al-Muhtar] As such, one did not intend to break the fast; however, a situation occurred where something entered the body cavity through a normal passageway due to one’s own action whilst one was consciously aware that one was fasting.
Example: Anas is making ablution for Asr prayer. He knows that he’s fasting for Ramadan today. While washing his mouth, he accidentally swallows water. He did not purposely intend to swallow water, but it mistakenly happened. Thus, his fast is vitiated because something entered the body cavity through a normal passageway while he consciously knew he was fasting. He doesn’t fall into category A because he didn’t purposely intend to do an action that would break the fast. He owes a makeup without expiation.
Forgetfully Breaking the Fast
If any of the actions that break the fast are performed forgetfully, then one’s fast is not vitiated. Forgetfully means that one does not have the presence of mind that one is fasting when performing the action. [Shurunbulali, Imdad al-Fattah]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, then he still completes his fast. It is only Allah who fed him and gave him drink.” [Bukhari]
In another narration, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “If a fasting person eats forgetfully, it is only provision Allah put forth to him and there is no makeup upon him.” [Bukhari]
Example: Sarah is fasting for Ramadan. Suddenly, she feels thirsty. She goes into the kitchen and drinks a glass of water, completely forgetting that she’s fasting. After she finishes, she suddenly realizes that it is Ramadan and she drank something forgetfully. She was not conscious of the fact that she was fasting when she drank. Her fast is not broken according to the hadiths mentioned above. Rather, she should continue to fast for the remainder of the day. Her fast is valid and she no makeup is upon her.
Answered according to Hanafi Fiqh by Muftionline.co.za
Q: I was keeping a Nafl fast. Whilst making wudhu, I was rinsing my mouth quite vigorously. I felt as though a drop of water slid down my throat. I was not gargling my mouth, just rinsing vigorously and with force. Did this break my fast?
Bismillaah
A: If you are sure that water seeped down the throat and at that time you were aware that you were fasting, then the fast has broken. You should make qadha of the broken fast. However if at the time the water seeped down the throat, you were not aware that you were fasting, then the fast did not break.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
(وإن أفطر خطأ ) كأن تمضمض فسبقه الماء
قال الشامي : ( قوله وإن أفطر خطأ ) شرط جوابه قوله الآتي قضى فقط وهذا شروع في القسم الثاني وهو ما يوجب القضاء دون الكفارة بعد فراغه مما لا يوجب شيئا والمراد بالمخطىء من فسد صومه بفعله المقصود دون قصد الفساد نهر عن الفتح قوله ( فسبقه الماء ) أي يفسد صومه إن كان ذاكرا له وإلا فلا لأنه لو شرب حينئذ لم يفسد فهذا أولى وقيل إن تمضمض ثلاثا لم يفسد وإن زاد فسد بدائع (رد المحتار 2/ 401)
وإن تمضمض أو استنشق فدخل الماء جوفه إن كان ذاكرا لصومه فسد صومه وعليه القضاء (الفتاوى الهندية 1/ 202)
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