A fasting person unintentionally has something in his mouth

01/08/2010| IslamWeb

Question 

Once, during the daytime in Ramadan, I was preparing a Licorice drink that we drink in Egypt, which consists of a powder with dust-like granules. It is as if some of it flew and I felt its sweetness in my throat. What is the Sharee’ah ruling on my fasting of that day? Taking into consideration that this unintentionally happened, should I make up for that day?  

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The predominant opinion of the scholars of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) is that fasting becomes invalid when one intentionally allows something to enter his insides while he remembers that he is fasting. However, when something unintentionally enters his insides, his fasting is not broken because it is difficult to avoid this and Allah does not charge a soul except with that within its capacity.

It is mentioned in the Fiqh Encyclopedia that, "The scholars of Fiqh have unanimously agreed that fasting is not broken when dust from the road reaches one's insides unintentionally. According to the scholars of Fiqh, flour sifting takes the same ruling as the dust on the road."

Hence, the preponderant view is that you are not required to make up for that day as long as this happened unintentionally. However, one should be wary as much as possible in general while fasting to avoid having anything reaching his throat.  

And Allah Knows best.