Fatwa ID: 06572

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

What is the ruling for use of oxygen while fasting

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The condition with fasting is that it has to be something which nourishes the body by reaching the stomach or captivates the brain. It must also enter through one of the naturally open bodily passages to nullify the fast. [Radd ul-Muhtār: vol. 2, pg. 410] [1]

An oral inhaler for asthma invalidates the fast. The reason for this is that the medication reaches the throat (cavity of consequence) and possibly further down the digestive tract via the mouth which is the orifice of consequence. 

A nebuliser also invalidates the fast. The mist which is inhaled is a mixture of gas and liquid particles in the form of small aerosol droplets which reach the throat (cavity of consequence) via the mouth.

However, in regard to concentrated oxygen. It has no effect as the gas is not an agent of consequence even at 100% oxygen. Smoke on the other hand, when inhaled purposefully, invalidates the fast.

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] (أو دواء) ما يتداوى به والضابط وصول ما فيه صلاح بدنه لجوفه