If you happen to have questions to which you can’t find answers below, then please send your questions to Mr. Karaman at hkaraman@sonpeygamber.info

-Can a toothbrush or miswaq be used while fasting?

The brushing of one’s teeth does not harm fasting, nor is it makrooh (highly discouraged) One can even use toothpaste, granted that it does not go to one’s throat.

-Does having an injection administered while fasting null one’s fast?  
 

Because injections didn’t exist in the past, there is no verse, hadith or particular ruling on this matter. While Imam Abu Hanifa says that anything that pierces one’s body or head breaks one’s fast, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad say that these acts don’t break one’s fast. Some fiqh books indicate the view that injections break the act of fasting. I don’t agree with these books. What breaks fasting is eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. Having an injection is not eating, drinking or a sexual act. It if for this reason that a needle does not  break one’s fast. However, when we examine the intention of the person who is having a needle injected, this is where the ruling changes. If the intention behind it is a medical treatment, then one’s fast is not broken. If it is something like an IV to quench one’s thirst or satiate the person as opposed to medical treatment – if the person is trying to compensate for what they are missing through fasting – then this falls contrary to the concept of fasting and this is not allowed. Those who need to have injections for medical treatment and are left in a difficult situation by delaying it until the night time can receive their injections while they are fasting. Those who are not sick or those who can easily receive their shots at night should prefer not to receive their treatment while fasting.

A person who is fasting can receive dental treatment or have a tooth pulled out as long they don’t swallow their saliva that contains blood or any other matter.

- Does using an eye-drop invalidate one’s fast?

Eye-drops are acceptable while fasting even though there is a likelihood that a small portion of the drop will reach the digestive system, this is considered to be religiously “forgiven.”  

- Does taking pill that is not swallowed invalidate one’s fasting?
 

This kind of drug is sucked on in one’s mouth and thus don’t reach one’s stomach. This is why they don’t invalidate the fast.