Fasting in Ramadan: Rulings on Wet Dreams, Vomiting, Blood Tests, Kissing, and Using a Toothstick

Islamic Rulings on Common Issues During Fasting in Ramadan

THE RULING ON WET DREAM, BLOOD TEST, VOMIT, KISSING AND USING TOOTHSTICK DURING FAST

WET DREAM

Sheikh Ibn Baz (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “The wet dream does not corrupt the fast because it was not by the choice of the servant. However, he must perform complete bathing for sexual impurity if sperm was emitted from him. This is because when the Prophet ﷺ was asked about that he answered that the person who has a wet dream must perform complete bathing if he finds the fluid, meaning sperm.”

{Fatāwa Islāmiyah, 3/271}

VOMITING

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) was asked about vomiting in Ramadān – does it break the fast?

He replied: “If a person vomits deliberately then it breaks the fast, but if he vomits unintentionally then it does not break the fast. The evidence for that is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may ALLĀH be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement.”

{Abu Dawūd #2380}

If you could not help vomiting, then you did not break the fast. If a person feels that his stomach is queasy and that its contents will be expelled, do we say that you have to try to stop it? No. Or that you have to make it happen? No. Rather we say: Take a middle approach – do not make yourself vomit and do not try to stop it, because if you make yourself vomit you will break the fast, but if you try to stop it, that will harm you. So leave it, and if it comes out without any action on your part, then it will not matter and that will not break your fast.”

{Fatāwa al-Siyam, page 231}

BLOOD TEST

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on a person who has blood taken when he is fasting in Ramadān for the purpose of testing.

He replied: “A test of this nature does not affect the fast, rather it is excused, because it is something needed, and it is not like the things that are known to break the fast according to Shari’ah.”

{Majmu’ Fatāwa Ibn Baz, 15/274}

KISSING

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) was asked: If a man kisses his wife during the day in Ramadān, or touches her, does that invalidate his fast or not?

He replied: “If a man kisses his wife, touches her and is intimate with her, without having intercourse, whilst he is fasting, all of that is permissible and there is nothing wrong with it. This is because the Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss his wife whilst he was fasting, and he used to touch her whilst he was fasting.

But if he fears that he may end up doing that which ALLĀH has prohibited to him, because he is easily aroused, then it is makruh (disliked) for him to do that. If he ejaculates, then he must refrain from eating and so on for the rest of the day, and he must make up that day’s fast, but he does not have to offer expiation, according to the majority of scholars.”

{Majmu’ Fatāwa Ibn Baz, 15/315}

TOOTHSTICK OR TOOTHBRUSH

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymīn said: “Refraining from using the toothstick during the daytime in Ramadān or during other days outside of Ramadān when a person is fasting is baseless. This is because using the toothstick is a Sunnah. It is as has been mentioned in the authentic Hadith: “Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.”

{An-Nasa’i #5}

It is legislated especially during Wudhu’ (ablution), for the prayer, when getting up from sleep, upon entering the house when one first enters, while fasting and at other times. It does not corrupt the fast unless the toothstick has a taste and an effect upon the spit. In that case you should not swallow its taste. Likewise, if some blood comes out from the gums when using the toothstick, you should not swallow it. If you cautiously avoid this, then it (using the toothstick) does not affect the fasting at all.”

{Fatāwa Islāmiyah, 3/261-262}