Is donating blood during the day in Ramadan permissible or does it break the fast? A- If he donated blood and a lot was taken, then certainly this invalidates the fast because it is analogous to cupping, and that would be to draw blood from his vein in order to help the sick or for safe keeping in case of emergency. As for (drawing) a little such as taking with a syringe for analysis and examination (purposes), then this does not break the fast. – Sheikh Ibn Jibreen, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Pages 466-467, Fatwa No.403. Special to Saudi Gazette from Fatwa-online.com Excretion of semen Q- Whilst fasting in Ramadan, I suffer from an intermittent excretion of semen without having a wet dream or masturbating. So does this affect my fast? A- If the matter is as you have mentioned, then the excretion of semen without desire during the day in Ramadan does not affect your fast and you are (therefore) not required to make it up. And with Allah lies all the success, and may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his family and his companions. – The Permanent Committee, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 451, Fatwa No.378, Fatawa Al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth Al-`Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Fatwa No.10645 Masturbating Q- Last Ramadan, while I was fasting, I masturbated. So what am I obliged to do? A- You must repent to Allah from having masturbated because it is prohibited according to the most correct of the two opinions of the people of knowledge. This is based on the saying of Allah: “And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts) except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, - for then, they are free from blame.” (Qur'an, 23:5-6) ...and due to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “O young men! Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. And whoever cannot (afford to get married) should fast, for it is a means to suppressing the sexual desire,” [Bukhari] So the Prophet (peace be upon him) directed the youth who could not afford to get married to fast; And no doubt, in fasting there is an element of hardship and if masturbating was permissible, then the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have directed them to it because it is easier upon the youth, in addition to there being a degree of pleasure in it. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) would not leave something easier for something more difficult if the easier one was permissible. This was his habit that never was he given a choice between two options except that he chose the easier of the two so long as it was not a sin. So his leaving the easier option in this issue shows that it is not permissible. As for his doing that in Ramadan while fasting, then he increases in sin because by doing so, he has broken his fast. So he must repent to Allah from two things, one from having masturbated and another repentance for having broken his fast. And he is (also) required to make up (the fast) for that day. –Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 443, Fatwa No.369 Excreted prostatic fluid Q- Regarding (the husband) if he kissed his wife, or cuddled her and thereby excreted prostatic fluid, does that invalidate his fast or not? A- According to most of the scholars, his fast is invalidated because of that. – Ibn Taymiyyah, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 456, Fatwa No.387, Majmoo' Fatawa Sheikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah - Volume 25, Page 265 Strenovs work Q- Is it permissible for a person whose work is strenuous and it is difficult for him to fast to break his fast? A- It is my opinion in this matter that for him to break his fast due to work is unlawful, and it is not permissible. If it is not possible for him to reconcile his work with fasting, then he should take off from work during Ramadan, so that it is easy for him to fast in Ramadan. The fast of Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam and it is not possible to forsake it. Forgetfulness Q- What is the ruling on a fasting person who eats due to forgetfulness? And what is the obligation upon one who observes him? A- Whoever ate or drank forgetfully while he was fasting, his fast is valid. But if he remembers it, he must stop, even if the morsel of food or the drink was in his mouth, he must expel it. The evidence that his fasting is complete is the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “Whoever forgot while he was fasting and ate or drank, he should complete his fast, because it was none other than Allah Who fed him and gave him to drink.” Also a person is not held accountable if he does something forEidden due to forgetfulness, according to the Words of Allah: “Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error.” And Allah says, “I have done so.” As for one who sees him, it is incumbent upon him to remind him, because this is part of changing that which is evil, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If any of you sees an evil, he should change it by his hand, and if he is unable to do that, then by his tongue, and if he unable to do that, then (he should abhor it) in his heart.” – Extracted from Islamic Verdicts on the Pillars of Islam by the Honorable Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, complied and arranged by Fahd Bin Nasir Ibrahim As
