Questions & Answers

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Questions & Answers
Questions may also be sent to:
Al-Farouq Iftaa Department, PO Box 4280, Korsten, 6014, South Africa
Fax: (041) 457-1326

Q. If you ended your monthly period and you know that the following day you will be performing your ghusl, is it permissible to start the fast then later on in the day perform your ghusl?
A. Yes, this is permissible, but remember that Fajr Salah is wajib upon the woman, so she must bath before sunrise in order to be able to read her Fajr Salah. 

Q. You are in the process of fasting, later on e.g. in the afternoon, your monthly period starts. Are you allowed to immediately start eating or must you not eat until iftaar?
A. If the monthly period starts any time during the day, she is allowed to eat immediately but it is better to wait a while just to be sure that it is the monthly Haidh. 

Q. You are engaging in fast and later on in the day you go to toilet and you find a brown stain on the underwear. Is this considered as period or must fasting continue?
A. If this happened during the time when your haidh supposed to begin then you can consider it as haidh (menstruation) period. However, as mentioned above, it is better to be cautions and wait before eating, even if it means waiting till Iftaar. 

Q. During the month of Ramadaan, in the late hours of the night a wife and husband engages in cohabitation and for some reason is unable to perform ghusl, is it permissible to start your fast in the state of Jananat and then perform ghusl in the morning before 11:00am?
A. One is allowed to start the fast in this way, I.e. in the state of Janabat. But remember, as mentioned earlier, the couple have to read their Fajr Salah. So ghusl must be made before sunrise. 

Q. What breaks the fast? Also state when does qaza and kaffara become wajib.
A. 1) The intake of any substance which is used as food or drink, or for nutritional or medicinal purposes, deliberately, while being aware of the fast, after having made the intention to fast for that day. Qaza and kaffara are wajib.

2) Swallowing any item or substance that is not consumed as food, medicine or nourishment, such as a blade of grass, or particle of wood, etc. In this case only one Qaza is wajib.

3) Sexual intercourse in which penetration occurs, in the front or hind private organs, while being aware of the fast and after having made the intention to fast for that day. This ruling applies even if there was no emission of sperm. Mere penetration breaks the fast. Qaza and Kaffara are wajib

4) Besides sexual intercourse with penetration, any other sexual act that courses emission of semen. One Qaza is wajib. 

Q. Does ejaculation of semen while asleep break the fast?
A. Ejaculation of semen while asleep does not break the fast. 

Q. Do the following break the fast? Pouring medicine into the ears, taking snuff or medicine into the nose, swallowing water while rinsing or gargling the mouth?
A. The above three factors will nullify the fast. In each case a Qaza will be wajib. 

Q. Is it permissible to taste food while fasting?
A. It is permissible to taste food while fasting but to do so unnecessarily is makrooh. If food is inadvertently swallowed in this case, the fast will break and one Qaza will be wajib. 

Q. Does vomit break the fast?
A. Inducing vomit amounting to a mouthful (i.e. vomit that spews out with such force that one is unable to keep it back) will break the fast and necessitate one Qaza. If one vomits involuntarily then the fast does not break irrespective of the amount.

NOTE: Deliberately swallowing back even a small amount of vomit will break the fast. Qaza becomes wajib.

Q. Does inhaling smoke break the fast?
A. Deliberately inhaling smoke breaks the fast. Therefore, burning agar-batti in the home thus causing oneself to inhale the smoke involuntarily will break the fast because this is regarded as deliberate inhaling. Here one Qaza becomes wajib. 

Q. Does smoking cigarettes break the fast?
A. Smoking does break the fast. If one who is addicted to smoking and experiences physical relief and satisfaction through it, smokes then Qaza and Kaffara both become Wajib. 

Q. What is the position of medical examinations for females during fasting?
A. 1) A medical checkup during which the moist hand or medication is inserted into the female private organ will break the fast. Qaza becomes wajib.

2) Implanting an object into the womb also breaks the fast. Qaza is wajib.

3) Inserting an instrument covered with ointment, cream, medication, etc., into the female organ or hind organ of male breaks the fast. Qaza becomes wajib. 

Q. If one eats sehri till after subhuh Sadiq, is the fast valid?
A. Eating sehri after the time has ended, that is, after Subuh Sadiq (dawn) renders the fast as null and void. Qaza has to be kept. 

Q. Does eating before iftaar invalidate the fast?
A. If one breaks the fast before time the fast breaks and one Qaza must be kept. 

Q. While fasting blood from within the mouth was swallowed. Will this break the fast?
A. Swallowing blood with the saliva (and the taste is felt in the throat) breaks the fast and one Qaza must be kept. 

Q. While brushing the teeth with toothpaste some toothpaste was swallowed. Is the fast broken?
A. Swallowing a bit of toothpaste while brushing the teeth nullifies the fast and Qaza becomes wajib. 

Q. After applying oil to the hair I ate thinking the fast is broken. Do I make a qaza?
A. 1) Eating deliberately after applying oil to the head, or surma to the eyes, or having had blood removed from the veins, erroneously believing that these acts break the fast, nullifies the fast and Qaza and kaffara both become wajib.

2) Eating deliberately after having been injected or vaccinated, believing that this breaks the fast, makes a Qaza wajib.

3) Eating deliberately after vomiting involuntarily, or after eating while forgetting one’s fast, thinking that such acts break the fast. One Qaza is wajib. 

Q. Does a syringe which is inserted into the rear private part or any medication inserted from the hind organ into the stomach break the fast?
A. A syringe or suppository inserted into the rear private part, or any medication inserted from the hind organ into the stomach breaks the fast and one Qaza is wajib. 

Q. My usual haidh is 10 days. After 6 days no more blood flowed. Can I take ghusl before 10 days and observe the fast?
A. Once you are certain that the flow of blood has ceased, you may take ghusl and begin fasting before the 10 day period is completed. 

Q. Relating to the above case, if blood is found after the sixth day what should be done?
A. You are not allowed to fast because your haidh period is still in progress. Wait until the blood has stopped flowing completely. Then make ghusl and resume fasting as normal. 

Q. If men read salaah with  earrings or with clothes which display any form of writing on it, will the salaah be accepted or better is this permissible?
A. The salaah will be valid, but makrooh, meaning the reward will be greatly reduced. It is not permissible for a man to wear an earring, so there is also the possibility that the salah may not be accepted by Allah. Remember, a salah is valid when the requisites are fulfilled. But acceptance depends on the attitude and appearance of the musallee. 

Q. What are the implications of using vulgar language or swearing during the month of Ramadaan?
A. Using abusive language while fasting destroys the reward of the fast. It is most despicable for a Muslim to behave like this during the month of Ramadaan. This has been specially condemned in the hadith of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

k               At all times think: “My Allah is watching me with much love and affection.

k               Do not reproach, taunt, or criticise those who are not involved in Tableegh.

k               There should be a great deal of respect for Ulema in the heart.

k               Today’s times are very delicate. It is imperative to recognise the era you live in. Don’t be hasty in making someone your close friend, for hypocrisy has become widespread.

k               The heart is the soil of Allah, Laa ilaha illallah is the seed. After sowing this seed of imaan one will have to irrigate it with good deeds.

k               An intelligent person is one who recognises occasions and people. (That is, he knows how to deal with each occasion and how to treat each individual.)