Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalamualaikum..

i recently got married but am now away from my husband because of studies..he`s in a different country and i`m in a different country...me and my husband are very close...as this is the month of ramadan..what if thoughts come into ones mind about the oposite partner..will that mean our fast has broken?

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Answer:

Does sexual thoughts break a fast?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There are five things which will break or invalidate the fast:

Eating

Drinking

Sexual intercourse

voluntary semen discharge

the menstruation of the woman while fasting

Just as thinking about food and drink does not invalidate the fast of a fasting person, the thoughts that arise of one’s spouse would not invalidate nor break the fast. But if one releases any sexual emission from his/her private parts due to the thoughts, then that would definitely invalidate and break one’s fast. But thoughts alone would not break nor invalidate one’s fast.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan