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:

Dear Mr. Burhan,

ASA

For a heart patient with ANGINA is the ROZA must? If so the patient in case of pain has to spray medicine in his mouth to avoid the heart attack. Will this break the FAST? If the fast is broken due to such a reason what is the penalty?

Thanks

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Answer:

Fast heart patient

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.

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

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185: Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the usage of an inhaler by a person who has a medical condition would not invalidate the fast in any way, as it is only a vaporizer used to facilitate one’s breathing tracts and does not reach one’s stomach. Allah Subhanah is well aware of the conditions of each of His slaves and He does not put a burden on anyone more than they can bear; thus if one has a medical condition whereby the abstention of using an inhaler while fasting would adversely effect his health in any way, his usage of the inhaler in such conditions would not effect the validity of his fast.

The taking of tablets or pills while fasting would break one’s fast, as the tablets do reach the stomach. Thus one who has a severe medical condition whereby abstention from taking the tablets would adversely effect his health, then he should not fast under such conditions and make up the fasts when Allah blesses him with good health.

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