Question # 76: Does taking injection while fasting during Ramadan breaks fast?
bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,
Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Dear questioner,
First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.
Shorter Answer: A fasting person can take medicine by injection, whether intramuscular or intravenous, without breaking his/her fast; however, an injection for nourishment purposes (food or drink) nullifies the fast. Nevertheless, it is better to receive an injection at night time after breaking the fast in all cases.
Long Answer: According to the Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas, “It is permissible for a fasting person to take medicine by injection, whether intramuscular or intravenous, during the day in Ramadan, but it is not permissible for the fasting person to be given an injection for nourishment purposes during the day in Ramadan, because that comes under the ruling on eating and drinking; having this injection is regarded as a trick aimed at breaking one’s fast in Ramadan. If the intramuscular or intravenous injection can be given at night, that is better.”
Shaykh Ibn Baaz said, “[The] …fast [of one who had intravenous and intramuscular injections during the day in Ramadan, when he was fasting] …is valid because an injection into a vein is not like eating or drinking; this applies more so in the case on an intramuscular injection. But if he makes it up in order to be on the safe side, that is better. If it can be delayed until nighttime, if he needs to have it, that is better, too, so as to avoid an area of scholarly dispute.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Fataawa al-Siyaam, “There is nothing wrong with having injections into a vein, muscle or buttock, and that does not break the fast, because this is not one of the things that break the fast; it is not food or drink, and it is not like eating or drinking… What does affect the fast is when a sick person is given an injection of something that takes the place of food and drink.”
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said in Fataawa Ramadhaan, “If [the] injection [is] nutritional (in any form), then it nullifies the fast whether it is in the vein or other than that. If, however, it is a tranquilizer or an analgesic for pain or that which is similar to it, then this does not break the fast”
Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.
Wassalaam.
