Question:
Assalamualaikum. If a person uses some eye medication (eye drops), does this invalidate his fast?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt, wbt.,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Matters that Invalidate Fast
In discussing this topic, we should first consider the matters which invalidate fast as stated in Fiqh al-Manhaji:
- Intentionally eating or drinking, however, if a person forgets or do so unintentionally, then it is forgiven. This is stated in a hadith from Abu Hurairah RA:
مَنْ نَسِيَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ
“If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.”
Sahih Muslim (1155)
- Inserting something into open body cavities such as the mouth, ears, genitals and anus. Anything that invalidates fast that is done unintentionally or because he forgets does not affect his fast and it is analogically deduced with eating and drinking. Likewise, if a person is forced to eat, it does not invalidate his fast because it is not because it is due to his own will. (See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 2/95)
- Intentionally vomiting invalidates fasting. However, if it is not on purpose it does not invalidate the fast as stated in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ ذَرَعَهُ قَىْءٌ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ وَإِنِ اسْتَقَاءَ فَلْيَقْضِ
“If one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally, he must make atonement.”
Sunan Abu Daud (2830)
- Intentionally having intercourse, even without ejaculation (orgasm). This is stated by Allah SWT:
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ
“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques.”
Surah al-Baqarah (187)
However, it does not invalidate his fast if he forgets that he is fasting, this is analogically deduced with eating and drinking.
- Intentionally ejaculating invalidates fast. However, if it is unintentional and he could not stop it, then his fast is not invalidated.
- Menstruation and post-natal bleeding. Thus, the fast of a woman who experiences menstruation or post-natal bleeding during the day is invalid and it is wajib for her to replace (qadha’) her fast. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abu Said RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
أَلَيْسَ إِذَا حَاضَتْ لَمْ تُصَلِّ، وَلَمْ تَصُمْ؟
"Isn't it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating?"
Sahih al-Bukhari (298)
- Insanity and apostasy (riddah), both these matters prevent a person from fasting. The reason is people in these circumstances are no longer eligible to perform worship. Hence, everyone who is fasting must abstain from all the matters which invalidates it, starting at sunrise until the sun sets. This means that if a person does something that invalidates his fast assuming that the sun has not risen, afterwards his assumption is proven wrong, then his fast is invalid.
(See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 2/93-98)
Inserting Something into Open Body Cavities
Among the matters which invalidates fast is inserting something into open body cavities (the cavity starting after the halqum (throat- around the area of Adam’s apple) all through the intestines and stomach) through open cavities which are the mouth, ears, genitals and anus of both man and woman. If it reaches the inner part of the cavity then his fast is invalidated. The same if a person puts or inserts a medicine inside his ears, then his fast is invalidated. However, if a person uses eye drops or eye medication inside of the eyes, then this does not invalidate his fast because the eyes are not included as open body cavities. (See al-Muktamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafie, 2/181)
Dar al-Ifta Jordan issued a fatwa saying: “Eye medication does not invalidate fast even if it can be tasted in a person’s throat. The reason is the eye is not included as an open body cavity which channels something into the body cavity.”
(See http://aliftaa.jo/ShowContentPrint.aspx?Id=103)
Likewise, it is stated in Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah on their official social website answering the issue of using or placing eye medication. According to the opinion of Imam al-Syafi’e, inserting medication in the eye even if it reaches the throat does not invalidate fast.
(See http://www.dar-alifta.org, fatwa No. 256)
Conclusion
Coming back to the above-presented question, based on the above evidences and arguments, we would like to conclude that using or placing eye medication inside the eyes does not invalidate fast. The reason is the eye is not categorized as an open body cavity. Even if the traces of the medication can be tasted in the throat it does not invalidate fast.
Furthermore, if something is accidentally inserted or entered into open body cavities such as the mouth, ears, genitals and anus, it does not invalidate the fast as stated in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ نَسِيَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ
“If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.”
Sahih Muslim (1155)
Wallahua’lam.