“Whomsoever does not leave false speech and actions upon it, and foolishness, then Allaah has no need for that person to leave his food and drink.”
This narration highlights that fasting is not simply to experience hunger.
There are two types of things that break the fast:
- Physical acts such as eating and drinking
- Evil speech such as making false testimony, lying and drinking
Evil speech will break an individual’s fast in terms of reward; although their fast will be valid they will receive less reward for the fasting.
The Salaf used to say: “the easiest part of fasting is leaving off food and drink. What is difficult is to leave your evil speech and actions”.
Cupping (Hijamah) – the extraction of blood through the suction process.
There are three narrations regarding this:
- The hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas: “The Prophet Sallallaahu had the cupping done to him while he was in the process of doing umrah/hajj; and one occasion he had the cupping done when he was fasting”.
This hadeeth suggests cupping is allowed.
- The hadeeth of Shaddaad Ibn Aus: (Tirmidhi) “The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) walked by a man next to Baqi (Graveyard) who was getting cupped (in Ramadhan, during the day) by another man. The Prophet said the one doing the cupping, and the one having cupping done, both of them have their fasts broken. (Tirmidhi)
This hadeeth suggests cupping is not allowed.
The hadeeth of Anas Ibn Malik: “Initially, when cupping was done, it was not allowed (i.e. referencing hadeeth number 2). But then after that incident the Prophet (Sallalalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) allowed cupping to be done for somebody to get fasting done, and Anas himself used to get cupping done. (Bukhari)
This hadeeth brings the previous two narrations together and suggests cupping is allowed.
There are two basic opinions regarding cupping:
- Cupping doesn’t break the fast- Abu Haneefa, Imaam Malik, Imaam Shafi’ee and others are of this opinion, using the explanation of the third hadeeth given.
- Cupping does break the fast- the evidence for this opinion is the second hadeeth, which is a strong hadeeth in its authenticity and chains of narration- more authentic than the third hadeeth (hadeeth of Anas Ibn Malik). Those of this opinion say the second part of the first hadeeth is not authentic (“he had the cupping done when he was fasting”).
Narrated by Aai’isha: “The Prophet put kohl in his eyes when he was fasting”; however, this narration is weak. Shaykh Fawzaan then goes onto speak about medicines. He says that if you must have eye drops for necessity, then they are allowed, but ideally should be avoided and consumed during the night, same for ear drops. Nose drops however, are not allowed. Injections are not allowed if there is a nutritional value to it. As for the ruling on the extraction of blood- then it depends on the amount; a large amount becomes problematic. Asthma inhalers are permissible (Fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baaz and others).
Hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah: “Whomsoever is overcome by vomit, then this doesn’t break his fast. But whoever makes himself vomit, then this breaks the fast”.
A person may make themselves intentionally vomit by:
- Placing fingers into the mouth
- By smelling something foul
- By looking at something foul
For detailed benefits please listen to the full audio Baarakallaahu Feekum.
