Fatwa ID: 02551

Answered by: Ustaadha Bint Salih​

Question

Salam

My question is about accidentally discharging mainly *semen* while doing abs exercise during fasting. I was really keen today to do some abs workout as I am fasting and it would be of great benefit to exercise to lose body fat while fasting, however, I felt a tingling feeling in my abdomen and I straight away realise that it’s the same ejaculation feeling I once had long time ago during exercise. I stopped doing my workout. However, after a while, I thought I might as well do some more abs exercise this time to reduce the friction of the clothes I even took my underwear off so that the ejaculation doesn’t happen. When I started again the ejaculating feeling came back and I stopped. Unfortunately, while I was just trying to understand the situation as to what is causing the pressure I raised my legs and suddenly I felt intense orgasm and I ejaculated. I did not touch my private parts, I am a single male and had 2 wet dreams in the past 2 days. I have been extremely worried and am now considering fasting again after Ramadan for one day. Can you please tell me if my fast is actually invalidated as I am confused because doing exercise was my choice but I did not intend to ejaculate and this is the reason I had stopped so many times to avoid it? I will insha'Allah pray to ALLAH for forgiveness but I require some strong understanding on this as I am very worried I have never made such a mistake while fasting and am feeling really upset that I should have stopped when I knew this could happen although I did stop at the end when I just raised my legs it happened and was too late.

I write to you today after Ramadan because unfortunately, I have experienced the same thing again, trying to avoid this feeling I did another exercise (abs crunches) but realised on the 3rd rep that the feeling is getting strong so I stopped but unfortunately it was too late and without even touching my private parts without an erection I had an ejaculation.

Can you please suggest if my fasts have been invalidated as a result of my stupidity although it wasn’t at all my intention to ejaculate and spoil my fast? Please let me know of what you understand of this situation at your earliest convenience – I may need to stop doing this abs exercises during fasting but it is still a gunaah outside fasting as well??  As this is just exercised widely done by athletes to reduce body fat and build their abdominal muscles.

This is also not a health condition and I have read that it’s merely due to the tension build up between the pelvic muscles and abdominal area etc.
 

Answer

If one ejaculated without forcing the semen out with one's hands or by rubbing his private parts on something, then the fast will remain intact.
(JawahirulFiqh p.379 v.1)

However, in order to stop this, you should not engage in such exercises or activity during fasting.

You have stated it is not a medical issue, but it would still be a good idea to visit your doctor and see if you can get any advice or assistance.

I pray Allah SWT eases your affairs.

Only Allah knows best.

Ustaadha Bint Salih.          

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah