Assalamualaikum, Please could you answer whether: 1) inhaling water vapour/steam nullifies the fast (inhaled for medicinal purposes, relaxation or even cleansing the skin)   2) If an oil or some medicinal substance such as Vicks or Olbas Oil is added to the water, does this affect the fast? Jaakallah khair.

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,  

Answer

If one was to intentionally breathe in a matter that has a perceptible body, such as smoke or vapor then one’s fast would become invalid.
It is stated in Raddul Muhtar that if one inhaled smoke (vapor) intentionally (drawing it towards ones self and smelling its smoke), whilst remembering that one is fasting, then ones fast would become invalid… However if it could not be avoided then the fast will not become invalid. (Vol 2, P 106)
In light of the above, it can be concluded that if one intentionally inhaled the vapor or steam, regardless if it contained oil or medical substances or not, then ones fast will become invalid. However, in the above situation one will only have to make up for the fast later (qadha) and compensation (kaffara) will not be necessary.

And Allah knows best.

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta Birmingham