Those things which break a fast

Those things, which invalidate a fast:

 

Those things, which invalidate (Fasid) a fast are of 2 types – One with which only Qaza (making up with another fast) becomes compulsory and the other, with which both Qaza and Kaffara (expiation) become compulsory.  Kaffara is to fast 1 day for that fast and set a slave free.  If that is not possible, then one has to fast for 60 days in a row.  If this is also not possible, then feeding 60 needy people twice.  Both of these will be described separately.

 

Those things, which make both Qaza and Kaffara compulsory:

 

The fasting person deliberately eats or drinks a thing, which is used as food, drink or as something pleasurable.  For e.g. sucking the saliva of one’s beloved or if someone is addicted to eating soil and that person eats it or using tobacco, etc.

 

Deliberately having sex, provided the woman is old enough for sex and regardless of whether ejaculation occurred or not, Qaza and Kaffara are compulsory for both partners.  Sodomy also comes under this.

 

Those things which make only Qaza Wajib:

 

Mistakenly eating, drinking or having sex (i.e. those things, which invalidate the fast) and thinking that the fast in invalidated and then deliberately indulging in the same

 

If water enters the throat by chance while gargling, diving, etc.

 

Using snuff (Naas)

 

Putting medicine in the ear or eyes.

 

The medicine applied to a wound in the head or stomach reaching the brain or entering the stomach.

 

Using Hookah (Huqqa)

 

Deliberately vomiting a mouthful.

 

Mistakenly doing the Sehri after true dawn

 

Thinking that the sun has set and performing Iftaar before sunset.

 

Swallowing pebbles, paper, grass, etc.

 

Thinking that the fast has been invalidated on having a wet dream and eating ad/or drinking.

 

Doing something, which does not invalidate the fast, like applying surma to the eyes or using Miswak or bloodletting, and thinking that the fast is broken, deliberately eating, drinking or having sex.  In these cases, Qaza and Kaffara, both are compulsory.

 

Somebody’s forcing someone to drink water or pouring it into the throat while sleeping.

 

Droplets of sweat or tears entering the mouth in such a quantity that their salty taste is felt in the whole mouth.

 

Inhaling the smoke of a fragrant substance like oud, etc.

 

Removing something stuck in the teeth, larger than a nut, with the tongue and swallowing it or smaller than a nut, but taking it out of the mouth and then again swallowing it.

 

Breaking any fast apart from the fast of Ramadhan, even though they may be the Qaza fasts of Ramadhan.

 

In all these cases, only Qaza (making up i.e. fasting one day in lieu of that day) of the fast is compulsory and not Kaffara (expiation/atonement).