Question
Kindly, elaborate for me what kind of medications one can use during fasting?
Answer
Please, bear in mind that this is a fiqahi issue and one can have difference of opinion on such issues. We can only suggest what we think is the best approach.Our approach is given below;
In general all human systems are so intricately connected with each other that it is very difficult to claim that anything (medicine or food) remains restricted to just one of them and is hence allowed or disallowed during fasting. Most if not all things, crossover from one system to the other to take effect and then to a third to get excreted. Take for example the skin ointments, a nitroglycerine patch or earache drops. As per common belief they are believed to be perfectly safe during fasting. But they cannot exercise their desired effects unless they are absorbed into the blood stream to be carried to target cells in blood or brain. While, on the other hand, a tablet to be taken by mouth for the same effects is considered ‘not permissible’ in Ramadan. It is therefore obvious that there are more factors than just one that govern the final dictation of something as ‘permissible’ or ‘not permissible’ during fasting and they all must be taken into account when making such a comment. These points are listed below.This, no way, is a comprehensive list, but can pave the way for a more sensible discussion on the issue;
1.Mode of drug use…. if a certain drug is used in a way that it does not enter the mouth, throat or more distant parts of digestive system as its primary portals of entry, it should fall in the category of ‘permissible’.
2.Spill or crossover…. if a small percentage of a drug is involuntarily carried into the digestive system where it is not supposed to produce significant effects, it should remain permissible during fasting.
3.Type of response produced…. if a drug produces a response which defies the basic philosophy of fasting e.g. giving energy or producing delirium, it should fall in the category of ‘not permissible’ no matter which way it gets into the human body.
As it has been said earlier, all these should be considered in each case and then a decision be made.
In view of all this it can be seen that even if a small amount of inhaled medicine might find its way into stomach (it is proven that most of it goes to the lungs) it should remain legally permissible because its primary effect is only in the lungs, and that it is carried into the stomach involuntarily and that the small amount reaching the stomach does not produce any significant effects on ones fasting status. So is the case with an injection (intramuscular or intravenous) of painkillers.
On the other hand if one opted for an injection of concentrated nutrients (glucose, proteins etc.) during fasting, it would break his fast because, in spite of the fact that it did not involve mouth as its portal of entry and it is quite similar to an injection of pain killers, it does produce the effects which defy the philosophy of fasting.
May Allah guide us to the right answers on these fiqahi issues.
Regards
UIUK team
Views: 553
Thank you jzk very important. As Many people are suffering from hey fever during fasting and not taking nasal inhaler due to this confusion. Making their fast and prayers difficult or even skipping fasts because of this problem at work place etc.