بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Unlawful Acts and Actions That Break the Fast — In the Light of Hadith

Backbiting, Lying, Abusive Speech, and Quarreling Are Even More Prohibited While Fasting:

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it while fasting, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.’” (Sahih Bukhari)

In fasting, a person is prohibited from eating, drinking, and marital relations—even though these are lawful and permissible. If engaging in these lawful matters breaks the fast, then what remains of the fast when a person commits actions that are already حرام (unlawful) in Islam? Therefore, just as one abstains from lawful things by Allah’s command, one must also abstain from unlawful actions by His command.

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Fasting is a shield; therefore, when one of you is fasting, he should not engage in obscene speech nor behave foolishly. If someone abuses him or quarrels with him, he should say: “I am fasting.”’” (Sahih Bukhari)

Often, when a person intends to commit an indecent or sinful act and someone arrives, he stops—because he does not wish to commit it in front of others. We all know that Allah sees us at all times, yet due to the weakness of our iman, this awareness is often not strong enough to prevent wrongdoing. Reflect: fasting trains a person in this awareness. You may be overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, alone in a place with food and drink available and no one watching—yet you refrain. Why? Because the fast would break. Even though no human sees you, you know Allah sees you. What a profound realization! In the same way, whenever you are inclined toward sin in solitude, stop yourself for the sake of Allah’s watchfulness. Continue this practice beyond Ramadan. Remember: it is not merely the fast that is endangered by sins, but iman itself. Repeated sins weaken faith and, at times, may even deprive a person of it.

While Fasting, One Should Not Sniff Water Deeply into the Nose During Rinsing if There Is Fear It May Reach the Throat:

“Hazrat Laqit ibn Sabrah رضي الله عنه narrates: I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, tell me about wudu.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Perform wudu thoroughly, pass water between the fingers, and draw water well into the nose—except when you are fasting; then do not do so.’” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami‘ Tirmizi)

Deliberately Inducing Vomiting Breaks the Fast and Requires Qada:

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘If a fasting person vomits unintentionally, no Qada is required; but whoever deliberately induces vomiting must make up the fast.’” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Ibn Majah)

Intercourse While Fasting Invalidates the Fast and Requires Both Kaffarah and Qada:

The Kaffarah for breaking a fast through intercourse is: freeing a slave, or fasting two consecutive months, or feeding sixty needy persons.

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when a man came and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I am ruined!’ The Prophet ﷺ asked, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘I had relations with my wife while fasting.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, ‘Can you free a slave?’ He replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Can you fast for two consecutive months?’ He replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Can you feed sixty poor people?’ He replied, ‘No.’

The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Then sit down.’ After a while, a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He said, ‘Where is the questioner?’ The man replied, ‘Here I am.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Take these dates and give them in charity.’ The man said, ‘Should I give them to those poorer than me? By Allah, there is no household in Madinah poorer than mine.’

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled until his blessed teeth became visible and said, ‘Then go and feed your family with them.’” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)