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:

Assalamualaikum Brother,

Jazakallah for your efforts.

I have an enquiry on behalf of my friend. She needs to do a smear test next week. This involves inserting a speculum (long instrument) inside the vagina. Her question is will this break her fast as that instrument will penetrate into the vagina. Also does she have to take ghusl after that?

Jazakallahu Khair.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Smear test insert

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 none 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:

1. Eating
2. Drinking
3. Sexual intercourse
4. voluntary semen discharge
5. the menstruation of the woman while fasting

If one in need of medical attention needs or intends to do a smear test, and a medical instrument is inserted into her private parts in the process…..the scholars are of the opinion that neither the test nor the inserting of the speculum would violate the fast nor the purity of the believing sister in the least. The sister should continue her fast, and is not obliged to perform the ‘ghusl’.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan