Fatwa ID: 06633
Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Question:
Regarding Ramadhan and keeping fasts; Would an appointment with a doctor to see parts of the body break the fast? Would applying a cream inside the nostril break the fast?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
- Doctor seeing body parts
‘Other people seeing body parts etc. does not invalidate the fast’. The points in the list below invalidate fast as per mentioned by the Qur’an and Hadeeth:
- Intercourse
- Eating and drinking
- Masturbation
- Cupping
- Menstruation/nifaas
- Vomiting purposefully
We understand that uncovering the awrah is Haram except in cases with spouse etc. The basic principle is found in the hadeeth:
لاَ يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَلاَ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ
No man should look at the ‘awrah of another man, and no woman should look at the ‘awrah of another woman. [Muslim Hadeeth no: 338]
This further clarifies that a man shouldn’t show his awrah to another woman and vice versa.
Now, because it is a necessity, one is allowed to reveal his/her awrah to the doctor.
The legal maxim of Islamic law mentions:
الضرورات تبيح المحظورات
Necessity renders prohibited things permissible.
2) Cream in the nostril
Just like how the mouth leads to the stomach, the nose also leads to the stomach (nasal cavity > oesophagus> stomach). And our beloved Prophet (SAW) shows clarity in this matter when mentioning something else in the Hadeeth:
وَبَالِغْ فِي الِاسْتِنْشَاقِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ صَائِمًا
(When performing wudu), rinse your nose excessively unless you are fasting. [Abu Daawood Hadeeth no: 142]
A nose spray with further inhalation can lead to the stomach which is why a side effect can be an upset stomach. So nose sprays break the fast.
Nose creams and nose gels and certain nasal sprays act locally, i.e. only take action in the nasal cavity or around the nostril and don’t travel through the oesophagus [HealthlineUK]. So this does not invalidate the fast. If this is the case which it should be, the fast isn’t broken. Maybe a good idea would be to consult the pharmacist or doctor regarding the cream to be even surer.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
