Fatwa ID: 06433

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

If a person who is fasting inserts his finger in the ear and finds some moisture and then re-inserts it because of the urge to clean the ear, will the fast break? Is qadha required?

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

Answer:

As long as the eardrum is not perforated the fast will remain unaffected as the eardrum will prevent the fluid from passing through down to the throat. [Radd al-Muhtār: vol. 3, pg. 365] [1]

Perforated tympanic membrane (perforated eardrums) invalidates the fast because the medication reaches the throat (cavity of consequence) via an orifice of consequence.

Intact tympanic membrane has no effect as the medication does not reach the throat or any other cavity of consequence. 

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1]الفساد والبطلان في العبادات سيان “إذا أكل الصائم أو شرب أو جامع” حال كونه “ناسيا” في الفرض والنفل قبل النية أو بعدها على الصحيح.