Does having a blood sample of 5 cc taken have any effect on the fast?
Praise be to Allaah.
That does not affect the fast because it is a little and does not make the fasting person weak.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked about the ruling on a person who has blood taken when he is fasting in Ramadaan for the purpose of testing.
He replied:
A test of this nature does not affect the fast, rather it is excused, because it is something needed, and it is not like the things that are known to break the fast according to sharee’ah.
Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 15/274.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked in Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam, p. 478, about the ruling on a fasting person having a blood test, and whether that breaks the fast.
He replied:
The fasting person does not break the fast by having blood taken for a test. If the doctor needs to take blood from the patient to test it, this does not break the fast, because it is a small amount of blood and it does not affect the body in the way that cupping does. The basic principle is that the fast remains valid and cannot be spoiled except by things for which there is shar’i evidence that they affect the fast. In this case there is no evidence that the fasting person breaks his fast because of this small amount of blood. With regard to taking a large amount of blood from a fasting person in order to donate it to a person who needs it, for example, then if a large amount of blood is taken which has the same effect on the body as cupping, this does break the fast. Based on this, if the fast is obligatory then it is not permissible for anyone to donate a large amount of blood to anyone, unless the person who is to receive that blood is in dire need and cannot wait until after the sun sets, and the doctors have decided that the blood of this fasting person will benefit him and will meet his immediate need for it. In this case there is nothing wrong with donating blood, and he may break his fast and eat and drink in order to regain his strength, and he should make up this day when he broke his fast.
Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
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I am asking if breaking the fast with jamaa in masjid is important than breaking it with the wife at home especially if the wife did not attend the masjid because she is pregnant and sick all the time? please I want an answer because I have just get married 7 months, and this is my first Ramadan with my husband. Until now he never breaks the fast with me at home. He breaks it in the masjid and he did not show up until 10P.M. Do you think this is an islamic act? Please I want an answer especially I am new muslim but my husband is a muslim born and he told me this is the rule of islam and I do not think that Islam states that?
Praise be to Allaah.
Undoubtedly kind treatment of a wife includes the husband taking care of his wife’s needs, both spiritual and worldly, and doing his duties towards her. One of the first duties of a husband towards his wife is to teach her about her religion and ‘aqeedah (beliefs) as Allaah has enjoined. Undoubtedly your husband’s telling you that what he is doing is what Islam teaches is not correct. This is a kind of speaking about Allaah without knowledge, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), even though he had his companions and was concerned about their affairs and meeting their needs, was nevertheless at his family’s service and took care of them. It was narrated that Aswad said: I asked ‘Aa’ishah what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do in his house. She said: “He used to be at his family’s service and when the time for prayer came, he would go out and attend the prayer.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 644.
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and live with them honourably”
[al-Nisa’ 4:19]
This indicates that kind and honourable treatment is the basis of married life as enjoined by Allaah.
It is well known that breaking the fast with one's wife, even if that is only on some days, is a kind of treating her kindly, especially at the beginning of marriage, when sharee’ah calls for everything that will help to strengthen the marriage, especially if the wife feels lonely. It is also an opportunity to teach her in a practical manner some of the Sunnahs and etiquette of breaking the fast.
Based on the above, we suggest that the husband should take care of his home and family, and look after them, and not fall short in his duties towards them. He should understand that he will be rewarded for taking care of his family’s affairs, more than taking care of others who are not members of his family. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Charity given to a poor person is charity, but charity given to a relative is two things: charity and upholding the ties of kinship.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, no. 2528; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Begin with those who are your dependents.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1360; Muslim, 1034. This does not mean that he is Islamically obliged to break the fast with his wife every day, but undoubtedly it is an act of kindness towards his wife and family to keep them company and reduce their loneliness, and to be with they when they need him in some of their affairs, especially since the questioner says that she is tired because of pregnancy. It is also an act of kindness towards one’s wife and family to be gentle and kind to them, to keep them company and to look after them. It is not an act of kindness to do as some men do, spending the evenings in the company of their friends and not caring about their families or wives. We ask Allaah to set the affairs of the Muslims straight. And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
