If any bits of food are left between the teeth of one who is fasting, is it regarded as breaking the fast if the fasting person swallows them?
Praise be to Allaah.
If the fasting person wakes up and finds any bits of food between his teeth, this does not affect his fast, but he has to spit out these bits and get rid of them, and that does not affect his fast unless he swallows them. If he deliberately swallows any bits that are left between his teeth, this invalidate his fast. But if he swallows them because he is not aware of the ruling or because he forgets, this does not affect his fast. But the Muslim should be keen to clean his mouth and teeth after eating, whether he is fasting or not, because cleanliness is required of the Muslim. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
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I have a friend who told me that he had practised the secret habit in Ramadaan and asked me: what is the ruling on that? After Ramadaan ended he made up that day – what is the ruling?
Praise be to Allaah.
Your friend has to realize that that this habit is haraam according to sharee’ah, as is indicated in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). We have already quoted the evidence in detail in question no 329. This habit is something that is repulsive to sound human nature and reason, and it is not befitting for a Muslim to lower himself to this level.
It should also be noted that sin has negative consequences a person, in this world and in the Hereafter, if he does not repent and if Allaah does not bestow His mercy upon him. We have already discussed this in the following questions: 23425, 8861 .
This habit has many harmful effects, such as weakening the body, and increasing the gulf between a person and his Lord. It is one of the major factors in depression.
With regard to the matter mentioned in the question, if he ejaculated as a result of masturbation then his fast is invalidated and he has sinned; he has to refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and he also has to make up that day.
We have already discussed this in detail in the answer to questions no. 38074 and 2571. And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
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What is the ruling on touching women with one's hand only during Ramadaan and the emission of semen as a result?
Praise be to Allaah.
The ruling on touching non-mahram women is that it is haraam, during Ramadaan and at other times, whether that is touching with the hand only or actions that are more serious than that, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle, that would be better for him than his touching a woman who is not permissible for him.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5045.
See also question no. 2459, 21183
Sins in general – including touching women – are more serious in Ramadaan. They detract from the reward of fasting, and may even spoil the fast altogether so that the fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger and thirst. Hence the fasting person is told most emphatically to avoid sin.
The believer should make the most of Ramadaan to set himself straight, to repent from sin and to turn to Allaah. The day when he fasts and the day when he does not fast cannot be the same.
Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When you fast, then let your hearing, sight and tongue fast and abstain from lies and haraam things, and refrain from harming your neighbour. Be tranquil and dignified on the day when you fast, and do not let the day when you fast and the day when you do not fast be the same.
Narrated by Ibn al-Mubaarak in al-Zuhd, 1308.
See also Question no. 37658
If a man shakes hands with a woman during the day in Ramadaan, and he ejaculates, his fast is invalidated, and there is no difference of opinion among the scholars on this point. He has to repent to Allaah from this sin, refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and make up that day’s fast later on.
See al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, 4/361
With regard to emission of semen whilst fasting, if that happens without desire, e.g. because of sickness, then it does not affect the fast.
The Standing Committee was asked:
I suffer from seminal discharge during the days in Ramadaan without any wet dreams or engaging in the “secret habit” (masturbation). Does this have any effect on the fast?
They replied:
If the matter is as described, the emission of semen without any feelings of pleasure during the day in Ramadaan does not affect your fast, and you do not have to make up that day.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/278.
But if the emission of semen is accompanied by desire, one of two scenarios applies:
1 – That happens because the man does something that provokes his desires, such as kissing his wife, shaking hands with a woman with desire, etc. This invalidates the fast and he must make up that day later on.
2 – The semen is emitted without the man doing anything, such as simply thinking about desire, or because of a wet dream. This does not invalidate the fast and his fast is still valid.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
With regard to the emission of semen as the result of desire, this invalidates the fast whether that happened because of touching or kissing or repeatedly looking, or any other reason that provokes desire, such as masturbation etc. With regard to wet dreams and thinking, these do not invalidate the fast even is semen is emitted as a result.
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/135
And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid
