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234 questions answered by Sh. Mustafa Umar. Search in your own words or pick a topic.
Can I use toothpaste while fasting?
Using toothpaste will not break your fast, but it is better to use flavorless toothpaste.
When do I have to make up my missed Ramadan fasts by? What if I cannot complete them in time?
You must make up your missed fasts before the upcoming Ramadan. If you are unable to do so, then you just make up those fasts after Ramadan is over, and try not to delay again so this doesn’t happen again the following Ramadan.
How do I perform Iʿtikāf (seclusion)?
You stay in the prayer area of a mosque and do not leave unless there is some need.
Which days should I fast besides Ramadan? Which days should I not fast?
It is recommended to fast six days of Shawwāl, to fast three days (preferably the 13th, 14th, and 15th) of any given month (of the lunar calendar), to fast every Monday or Thursday (or both), to fast on the 10th of Muḥarram (known as the day of ʿĀshūrā’), and to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Ḥijjah (with the 9th being more emphasized). Do not fast on the day of Eid al-Fiṭr, Eid al-Aḍḥā, and on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Ḥijjah. Also, do not fast every day with the intention to continue throughout your life or to fast for two days straight without breaking the fast in between.
Is Laylatul Qadr on the 27th night of Ramadan? Are there signs to look for?
No. The Prophet did not tell us exactly what night it is, so we should strive on the last ten nights like he did. One Companion, Ubayy ibn Ka`b insisted that it is on the 27th because he thought he saw one of the signs where the Prophet had hinted about it, but other Companions strongly criticized his overconfidence and said it cannot be known for sure.
What should I do if I get my menstrual period in Ramadan?
Skip fasting and make up the days you missed. If you began the day fasting and then got your period, break your fast but try not to eat in front of people who are fasting, so they don’t get the wrong idea. Do not keep fasting if you get your period because that would be a type of deception. If you have period and it ends in the middle of the day, fast the remainder of the day, but you will still make that day up later.
Does a wet dream, masturbation, or intercourse break my fast?
A wet dream does not break your fast since it is unintentional. Masturbation breaks your fast since it is intentional and you must make up that day. Having intercourse breaks your fast and you must make up that day and fast for sixty additional consecutive days as a penalty for violating the sanctity of Ramadan.
Should I complete recitation of the Qur’an in Tarawih Prayer on the 27th night?
No, since there is no basis for this from the Prophet or the Companions. It is better to complete it on the 29th night because several people stop attending the prayer after the Qur’an is completed and because it will result in less recitation daily in Tarawih so it is easier on the people.
Is there something wrong with fasting and sleeping most of the day?
If you sleep because you work a nightshift then then there is nothing wrong with that since it is not in your control. However, if you purposely try to sleep all day so that you feel no hunger or thirst then you are defeating the purpose of fasting and should not do that.
Can I swim while fasting?
Yes, but it is better to not swim if you normally swallow water when fasting. Otherwise, it is just like taking a bath and does not affect your fast.
Can I use ear drops while fasting?
Yes, since they do not reach the throat. It is just like taking a bath or swimming where the water entering your ear will not break your fast.
Can I use an inhaler for a stuffy nose or asthma while fasting?
If no visible (to the naked eye) droplets come out then it is fine and does not break your fast, such as a vicks vapoinhaler. An asthma inhaler emits a visible spray so it should normally break your fast, however, since the amount that reaches your stomach is so miniscule, it resembles the amount of water absorbed when rinsing your mouth with water, which does not break your fast.
Is my fast broken if I get an injection of medicine, insulin, or a vaccine?
No, since it is not consumed like food or drink through the mouth.
Can I perform iʿtikāf (seclusion) at home if I cannot make it to the mosque (masjid)?
Iʿtikāf is only valid when performed inside a mosque. However, if you are unable to then if you isolate yourself (called khalwah) in the prayer area of your house and spend much of your time worshipping Allah the way you would in iʿtikāf, then you may hope that Allah accepts this as having a similar reward to if you were able to do it in a mosque (masjid).
If I send Zakat Ul-Fitr to another region, do I calculate the value according to my home region or the destination region?
Since the amount to be paid was measured in food during the time of the Prophet, technically, the value would be calculated according to the destination region. However, it is more pious to calculate it according to the region in which you earned the money, since normally this charity should be given locally where the money was earned. So if Mustafa lives in America and would have paid the valuation for dates at $25, he should not pay only $5 because he sends it to Afghanistan and can get dates cheaper there.
Do I have to fast if the day is very long and I live in an area with an extreme latitude?
If dawn and sunset occur in your area, you must fast between those two times if you are physically able. If you will get sick or be unable to function then you can skip fasting and must make up these fasts later in the year, like a sick person, when the days are short enough to safely fast.
If I break my fast in Ramadan, how many days do I need to make up?
If you start the day fasting in Ramadan and later break it by eating, drinking, or having intercourse, you must make up one day of fasting and offer a penalty [kaffārah] by fasting for two months straight. However, if you smoked, ejaculated during intimacy, or masturbated, this would break your fast, require one makeup day, but would not require a penalty because they are not entirely like eating, drinking, or intercourse.
How sick must I be to break my fast?
You may break your fast when it is likely to make you ill or increase your current illness. Illness means that your body cannot function properly and does not refer to discomfort or a little pain from a headache, since fasting is supposed to be uncomfortable. For example, if you have a light headache but can still function, you should keep fasting. If you have a severe headache which prevents you from performing your daily responsibilities then you should break your fast. It is important to consult a medical practitioner who understands the value of fasting in Islam so they do not discourage you from fasting unnecessarily.
If I missed a fast in Ramadan for a valid reason do I make it up or feed poor people?
If you miss a fast due to illness, travel, or pregnancy, you must make it up [qaḍā] at your earliest convenience. Delaying it unnecessarily is discouraged. If you missed more than one you may either make those up consecutively or intermittently, but consecutively is better.
Should I fast while travelling?
If the journey is not difficult then it is better to fast, otherwise it is better not to. If you began the day fasting and then travelled, you must complete that fast since the difficulty is usually reduced.
Does vomiting break my fast?
Vomiting does not break your fast unless it is intentionally induced and is more than a mouthful.
Does smoking break my fast?
Yes, intentionally inhaling smoke will break your fast since it has a visible body and enters through your mouth.
Does blood extraction from a blood test break my fast?
No, but it is disliked if it causes weakness and makes it difficult for you to fast.
Can I hug and kiss my spouse while fasting?
Yes, you can have non-sexual intimacy with your spouse. However, if there is a valid concern that it might lead to intercourse or ejaculation, then it is disliked.
Do I have to make an intention for fasting?
Yes, but an intention just means that you know in your heart you will fast. If you change your mind and decide not to fast, you must change your mind back and have the intention to fast any time between sunset (of the previous day) and mid-day (on the day of fasting).
When should I eat a pre-dawn meal [suhur] for fasting?
It is recommended to eat a pre-dawn meal [suḥūr] any time after midnight, but it is somewhat better to delay it until just before the fast begins.
Is my fast broken if I wear a Morphine, Nicotine, or Birth Control Patch?
No, since the substance is not consumed like food through the mouth.
Do the six recommended days of fasting in the month of Shawwāl have to be in order? Can I fast the six days of Shawwāl if I have not made up the fasts I missed from Ramadan yet?
It is highly recommended to fast any six days, besides the day of Eid, in Shawwāl. It does not have to be in order. You normally must not perform a random optional fast before making up missed fasts from Ramadan. However, if the optional fast is time-bound, then you can do it (like the six of Shawwāl, Arafah, or Ashūrā) before making up a missed fast from Ramadan because it is technically not a requirement to make up those days immediately, but rather by the following Ramadan.
Can I combine two different days of fasting into one day such as making up missed Ramadan fasts, Shawwāl, Arafah, or Ashūrā?
No, because each one of these days has a separate purpose and thus requires separate effort. That would be like combining a missed prayer with the same prayer the following day.
Should I spit a few times after rinsing my mouth with water when I’m fasting?
There is no need to do that if you spit out all the water. Even though a tiny bit of water remains in your mouth for a while, spitting may cause dryness in the mouth and make you more thirsty.
Does inserting medicine or a probe into my private part break my fast?
A ‘pap smear’ or ‘cervical screening test’ would not break your fast since there is no connection between the vagina and digestive system. Inserting something into your anus such as a suppository would break your fast since it reaches the digestive tract.
Should I fast the first nine days of the month of Dhul Ḥijjah?
Yes, it is recommended to fast during the first nine days of the month of Dhul Ḥijjah since fasting is one of the many good deeds which is encouraged during this time. Fasting on the 9th day in particular is highly recommended.
How do I pay Zakat Ul-Fitr?
Zakat Ul-Fitr (Ṣadataqtul Fiṭr or Fiṭrah) helps the poor to enjoy the day of Eid without having to worry about working on that day. If you possess more than the value of 3 ounces of gold, excluding those possessions which are absolutely required for living such as clothing, a vehicle, basic furniture, or housing, then you must pay it. For example, Ali owns a car worth $5,000 and a motorcycle worth $4,000. Although he does not need to pay Zakah he must pay Zakāt Ul-Fiṭr since the motorcycle is not needed, despite being personal property. A man is required to pay a share of Zakāt Ul-Fiṭr on behalf of each minor child.
Which days am I not allowed to fast?
It is forbidden to fast on the two days of Eid: Al-Fitr on the 1st of Shawwal and al-Adha on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. It is prohibited [tahrimi] to fast on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah, even if there is some reason to do so such as wanting to make up a fast from Ramadan or if this day happens to fall on a Monday or Thursday.
These answers are general guidance. For your own situation, ask a scholar.