Refresher & Advanced · Worship Refresher

Islamic Fasting and Ritual Purity Practices

Explore rulings on fasting interruptions and purity during Ramadan.

4 questions · Hard · about 4 minutes

Test yourself properly, with scoring and instant feedback.

4 questions, about 4 minutes.

Take the quiz
Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 4 questions.

1. Which type of injection does break the fast?

  • Nutrient injections that take the place of food and drink. (correct answer)
  • Ordinary vaccines.
  • Non-nutritional intramuscular injections.
  • Non-nutritional subcutaneous injections.

Why

Ordinary medical injections, including vaccines, do not break the fast because they are not food or drink and do not enter through the usual routes of eating and drinking. Subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injections do not affect the fast unless they are used for nutrition. Nutrient injections are different because they take the place of food and drink, so they break the fast. If possible, even non-breaking injections may be delayed until night when that is safe and does not cause harm.

View source on IslamQA →

2. Which medical procedure listed in the source invalidates the fast?

  • Kidney dialysis involving removal and return of blood with added substances. (correct answer)
  • Eye drops, while avoiding swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
  • Ear syringing.
  • Vaginal pessaries.

Why

The source lists many medical treatments that do not invalidate the fast, such as eye drops, ear drops, ear syringing, vaginal pessaries, some diagnostic procedures, oxygen, non-nutritional injections, and skin medicines. Kidney dialysis is treated differently because it involves removing blood, cleaning it, and returning it with added chemical and nutritional substances such as sugars and salts. Therefore, the source regards kidney dialysis as invalidating the fast.

View source on IslamQA →

3. What is the ruling on using appetite suppressant patches while fasting?

  • They do not break the fast. (correct answer)
  • They break the fast because they reduce hunger.
  • They break the fast because anything absorbed through the skin invalidates fasting.
  • They are allowed only if they are used for treatment and not weight loss.

Why

The source states that appetite suppressant patches do not break the fast. Substances absorbed through the skin pores do not invalidate fasting according to the majority view cited, and medical patches, creams, and ointments are included among things that do not break the fast. These patches are not eating or drinking, and they do not nourish the body like food and drink. Intending to reduce the feeling of hunger or thirst does not invalidate the fast, just as cooling oneself with water while fasting does not invalidate it.

View source on IslamQA →

4. What is the ruling if someone becomes junub at night and dawn begins before he does ghusl?

  • His fast is valid, but it is better to do ghusl before dawn. (correct answer)
  • His fast is invalid and he must make up the day.
  • He must break the fast and fast another day.
  • He may not fast unless he did ghusl immediately after becoming junub.

Why

If a person becomes junub at night and starts the day fasting before doing ghusl, his fast is valid according to the majority of scholars, and he does not have to make up that day. The stronger view cited is that the report saying such a person should not fast is abrogated, or understood as referring to what is less complete. What is preferable and more complete is to do ghusl before dawn so that the fast begins in a state of purity, but delaying ghusl until after dawn does not invalidate the fast.

View source on IslamQA →

A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

More in Worship Refresher

Browse all 281 quizzes or explore guidance topics.