If one is on an aircraft what timing should one follow to break the fast?
The person should break the fast when the sun disappears in the sky while he is on the aircraft and shouldn’t break the fast according to the timings on ground-level. The person should wait till the sun disappears while he is on board.
If the 'athan' of the Maghreb is at 6.40pm and someone drinks at 6.38pm, just two minutes before the Iftar timing. Does this invalidate the fast?
If the Muslim ate or drank before the 'athan' of Maghreb a minute or less, thinking that the Maghreb prayer call has announced, in this case he has to refast that day, and there is no sin on him because he did not do it deliberately.
What to do when one is travelling?
Dr Mashael said it is permissible for the person who left the country before dawn (Fajr prayer call) not to fast. Majority of scholars allow not to fast when travelling during the daytime. But if a traveller wants, he can fast.
Can an asthma patient use an inhaler during fasting?
“A patient may use asthma medication prescribed if s/he needs to do so. It breaks the fast because the /pumpspray contains water and other chemical elements.
"The person must re-fast this day.
"However, if the disease is chronic, the person can feed another in poverty or donate an equivalent amount.”
What if someone hears the ‘adhan’ (call to prayer) of Fajr while he was taking his/her suhoor?
The Muslim who wants to fast should throw out the food in his mouth when he hears the ‘adhan’. Do not continue eating and drinking. Do not ingest what is in the mouth.
In case food is swallowed, the person should perform a re-fast for that day.
Is it permissible to use a deodorant or light incense (bakhoor) during fasting?
Deodorant does not break the fast, but a person shouldn’t use perfumes or inhale the smoke of incense (bakhoor). If inhaled deliberately, it breaks the fast and the person should re-fast that day.
Can one use a medicinal nicotine patch on the body to quit smoking, during the fasting hours?
Nicotine patches and the like are allowed if none of its ingredients go into or through the stomach of the person.
Nothing can be swallowed by the person.
That which is absorbed by the body – like smells in aromatherapy - will not effect on the validity of the fasting.
Therefore, use patches that will not spoil the fast.
A person should control himself and refrain from smoking during the day in Ramadan and at night also - give up the habit.
- As told to Mohammad El Sadafy