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Rules on swallowing acid stuff from stomach while fasting

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Question 208:  A brother asked me that if he swallowed that acid stuff which comes from the stomach, and when he swallowed it, he had an idea that it might break his fast but he wasnt sure…he has to give qadha but is that considered jahl taqseeri due to him not knowing for sure but he couldve avoided it by precaution and check if he felt it was maybe a fast breaker or is dhann sufficient to be jahl qasoori and one must have yaqeen that it breaks his fast for him to give kafarat, example, I swallow the acid liquid from my stomach with yaqeen it doesnt break my fast, then i find out, im fine but if i swallow it ,knowing theres a good chance that it might break my fast, isnt that unpardonable ignorance due to me being able to refrain from that and check cause i had an idea that it might break my fast. Generally what is the Rules on swallowing acid stuff from stomach while fasting?

Answer 208: If one who is fasting belches out something and it comes into the mouth, if he swallows it again, it will invalidate his fast no matter how little it is and he has to make up for it and also make kaffarah (either fast 60 days or feed 60 poor people the way mentioned in related books). Also, if what he has swallowed is something that is haram to eat, such as blood, he will have to do kaffarah jam’ (meaning that he has to both fast 60 days and feed 60 poor people).[1] All if this is if he swallowed it intentionally. None of what was mentioned applies if it was unintentional though and the fast is valid. Read More

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Rules concerning tooth brush (Miswak) during fasting

by Posted in All Q&A, Fasting, Islamic Laws, Things which are Makrooh Tagged , , , , ,

Question 391: Salamualekum members. Please what is the view of ahlulbat on chewing stick (miswak) whiles fasting?

Answer 391: One of the things which is considered as makru for a person observing Fast is to clean his teeth with a wet toothbrush.

If a person, who is fasting, takes the tooth brush (Miswak) out of his mouth and then puts it back into his mouth, swallowing its liquid, his fast will be void, unless the moisture in the tooth brush mixes up with the saliva in such a way that it may no longer be called an external wetness.[1]

When one rinses his mouth with water because it has dried due to thirst or to get rid of a bad smell of mouth and the water uncontrollably goes down one’s throat and one has already known it that if he\she does so the water will go down his\her throat, qadha has to be given.[2]

A fast is not invalidated by swallowing the saliva which has gathered in the mouth, even if it has gathered due to recalling something. Likewise, according to the stronger opinion, (a fast is not invalidated) by swallowing the phlegm which has not yet reached the cavity of mouth, without there being any difference whether it has come down from the head or has emerged from the chest (or lungs). As regards the phlegm which has reached the cavity of mouth, caution must not be given up by abstaining from swallowing it. If the phlegm has come out of the mouth, and then a person swallows it, his fast shall thereby be rendered void. The same rule applies to saliva. Rather, (the same rule shall apply) if there is a pebble in the mouth of a person, and he takes it out, and there is some saliva on it, then the person puts it again into his mouth and swallows it. (The same rule shall apply), if a tailor wets a thread by his saliva, then puts it back into his mouth, and swallows it along with the moisture on it. (The same rule shall apply), if a person uses the tooth brush, and it comes out wet with saliva, and then he puts its back into his mouth and swallows the moisture etc., on it, and his fast shall be rendered void.

Of course, if the moisture on the tooth brush is mixed up with his saliva in a way that it may not be said that he has swallowed his saliva with something other in it, there shall be no harm. The same rule applies to tasting broth, chewing the food or the amount of water left after rinsing. Likewise, there is no harm in chewing the bark of a tree, according to the more valid opinion, even if its taste has remained in his saliva as long as it is not due to the scattering of its particles, even if they are absorbed in the mouth.[3]

For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answers:

Index: Things from which a person keeping fast must abstain & Kaffarah (Expiation), answer 372.

Index: Studying in the month of Ramadhan is not a valid excuse to escape fasting, answer 572.

Index: Using Asthma Inhaler does not break the Fast, answer 575.

Index: Number of things which are disapproved (Makruh) for a person observing fast, answer 566.

Index: Fasting and prayers of a traveler who travel after Zuhr, answer 384.

Index: Qada Fast for a person reverted to Islam, answer 196.

Index: Rules of prayers and fasting performed without ghusl, answer 034.

Index: Fast in countries with long days, answer 106.

Index: Niyyat for Fasting: How to make intention to Fast Ramadan, answer 627.

[1] . The official website of the office of Sayyid Sistani (ha), rules regarding Fasting, Eating and Drinking.

[2] . Tawzih al-Masael (with annotation of Imam Khomeini (ra)), Vol. 1, Pg. 892, Q  1573; Ibid, Pgs. 895-942, Q 1582&1690; the Official website of Sayyid Sistani (ha), Rules concerning Fasting, occasions on which it is obligatory to observe the Qadha only;  Tahrir al-Wasilah of Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, Pg. 272.

[3] . Tahrir al-Wasilah of Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, Chapter on Things Which Must Be Refrained in a Fast.

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Fasting and prayers of a traveler who travel after Zuhr

by Posted in All Q&A, Fasting, Rules of Prayer Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Question 384: Salam Alaikum! There is someone who lives in Stockholm and they work there too. But they decided during The Month Of Ramadhan to live outside the city, which that city is 50 km aways from Stockholm .But I know they can fast if they travel after Salat Aldhur ; here is the question, will the traveler’s Salat be Qasar or tamam?

My Marja: Ayatollah Al-Udhma Sayed Ali Al-Sistani

Answer 384: If they travel after Dhuhr (noon) their fast is treated as valid. If they have decided to stay in that city for 10 days they would have to offer their prayers tamam and fast till they are there for 10 days. Otherwise, they should offer their prayers Qasr and not to fast other days in this state.

According to Sayyid Sistani (ha), if a fasting person travels after Zuhr, he should, as a precaution, complete his fast. If he travels before Zuhr and had an intention from the previous night to do so, he cannot fast on that day. As a precaution, he cannot fast on that day even if he had no intention to travel from the previous night. In both the cases, he cannot break the fast till he has reached the limit of Tarakkhus. If he does, he will be liable to give Kaffarah.

If a traveller in the month of Ramadhan, regardless of whether he was travelling before Fajr, or was fasting and then undertook the journey, reaches his hometown before Zuhr or a place where he intends to stay for ten days, and if has not committed an act which invalidates a fast, he should fast on that day. But if he has committed such an act, it is not obligatory on him to fast on that day.

If after covering a distance which would add up to make 8 farsakh on return, the traveller abandons the journey, and if he decides to remain at that place, or to return after 10 days, or is undecided about returning or staying there, he should offer full prayers.

If a person abandons the journey after reaching a distance which would add up to make 8 farsakh on return, and decides to return, he should offer shortened prayers even if he wants to stay there for less than 10 days.

For the shar’i distance needed to travel in order for one’s prayer to become shortened, the fuqaha (Jurisprudents) have various rulings. Some say the distance necessary is approximately 22.5 kilometers.[1] Others say that the distance is approximately 21.5 kilometers.[2] Another group says that it is approximately 22 kilometers.[3]

A Farsakh is equal to three miles, while a mile is equal to four thousand cubits, whose length is equal to the breadth of twenty four fingers, and each finger is equal to the width of seven grains of barley, and each barley is equal to the breadth of seven average hair of a Turkish horse (or a pony). If the distance is less than that, even if to a minimal extent, the person on journey shall offer unreduced prayer.[4]

Note: A traveler for whom it is obligatory to shorten a four Rak’ats prayers to two Rak’ats, should not fast. However, a traveler who offers full prayers, like, a person who is a traveler by profession or who goes on a journey for a haram purpose, should fast while travelling.[5]

[1] Imam Khomeini, Ayatullahs Bahjat, Khamenei, Fadhil Lankarani, Safi and Nouri. Tawdhihul-Masa’el (of Marja’s), vol. 1, issue 1272.

[2] Makarem Shirazi, Tawzihul-Masa’el (of Maraji’), vol. 1, pg. 684.

[3] Tabrizi, Sistani and Vahid Khorasani, Minhajul-Salehin, issue 884.

[4] . The Official Website of Sayyid Sistani (ha), Prayers of a traveller » Prayers of a traveller (Musafir) & Fasting by a traveler; Tahrir al-Wasila of Imam Khomeini (ra), Vol. 1, Chapter on a Traveler’s Prayers and its Relevant Rules.

[5] . The official website of the office of Sayyid Sistani (ha), Fasting » Fasting by a traveller.

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Using Asthma Inhaler does not break the Fast

by Posted in All Q&A, Fasting Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Question 575: Does using an asthma inhaler break your fast? It’s a puff of medicine that you breathe into your lungs.

Answer 575: Since, the puffer uses a compressed gas that is used by the patient, which reaches the lungs via the trachea to expand the lungs, is not food or drink or anything resembling them there would be no problem for a person observing fast to use asthma inhaler during the day. His fast is not broken by using this kind of medicine, according to all maraja’.[1]

Note: There are many kinds of medication for asthma, some of which invalidate the fast and some do not. The most well-known of these medicines and treatments are puffers, oxygen, vaporizers and capsules that do not break the fast.

For further information in this regards, please read the following answers:

Index: Things from which a person keeping fast must abstain & Kaffarah (Expiation), answer 372.

Index: Number of things which are disapproved (Makruh) for a person observing fast, answer 566.

[1] . Tawzih al-Masael (annotated by Imam Khomeini), Vol. 1, Pg. 892, Issue: 1576; Ibid, Pg. 893, Sistani; The official website of the office of Sayyid Sistani (ha), Dialogue on miscellaneous issues.

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Satans are chained during the Holy Month of Ramadan

by Posted in All Q&A, Ethics and Mysticism Tagged , , , , ,

Question 061: Is the saying authentic that, ” Satans are chained during the Holy Month of Ramadan ”?

Answer 061: In some authentic traditional sources like Al-Kafi and Tahzib, there has been mentioned a tradition regarding the blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as follows, “When the Holy month of Ramadan enters, the outcast Satans are chained.” This tradition has been narrated by Imam Baqir (AS) by his grandfather. The Arabic version of the hadith is as follows:[1]
«أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُلْوَانَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْن شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (ع) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ إِذَا طَلَعَ هِلَالُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ غُلَّتْ مَرَدَةُ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الْجِنَانِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ غُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَ اسْتُجِيبَ الدُّعَاءُ وَ كَانَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ فِطْرٍ عُتَقَاءُ يُعْتِقُهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ كُلَّ مُنْفِقٍ خَلَفاً وَ أَعْطِ كُلَّ مُمْسِكٍ تَلَفاً…» Read More