By
Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
5
April 2023
Question:
Is It Permissible Or Impermissible To Take Glucose Or Insulin During A Fast?
Answer: The books of jurisprudence have made such matters
very clear that If there are any indications that a patient cannot fast, or if
fasting will harm him, or if the disease will worsen, or if recovery will take
longer than expected, or if these things are demonstrated by experience or by
an expert Muslim physician who is not a Faasiq, it is permissible
for him to not fast for as many days as he is in these conditions. Even though Kaffarah
is not required under such circumstances, he must observe the Qazaa
of the missed fasts once his health has returned to normal.
Allah
Almighty says in the Quran,
“...
So those of you who witness the month must fast in it. But the one who is sick,
or is on a journey (should fast) as much from other days (as he missed). Allah
intends (to provide) ease for you and does not intend (to create) hardship for
you.” (2:185)
As
a result, if there is an instance where it is lawful to refrain from keeping
fast, it is still permissible to take any required medications, such as glucose
or insulin, while fasting, provided that they are supplied through a Ghair
Manfaz, i.e. an unnatural orifice of the body, as opposed to the mouth,
nose, etc. The jurists agree with this point of view.
Question:
Does Taking Glucose Or Insulin During A Fast Invalidate It Or Not?
Answer: The fast will be invalidated and its Qazaa
will be mandatory if glucose is consumed by way of eating and drinking like
regular medications. This is true whether the glucose is in the form of glucose
powder that is dissolved in water and swallowed, glucose tablets that are
placed in the mouth and chewed, or glucose syrup that is taken in one or two
spoonfuls as prescribed by the doctor.
But
certainly, taking insulin or glucose via injection will not break the fast
since the fast is broken by medication or food that enters the brain or stomach
through the natural orifices [Manaafiz-e-Asaliyyah] of the body
[such as the mouth, nose, etc.]. And since the Arabic word Masaam
is derived from "Samm al-Ibrah," which means "the
pore or hole of a needle," the pore created inside the body through the
injection is obviously not a natural orifice [Manfaz] but an
artificial pore [Masaam], so the injection will not invalidate
the fast whether it is inserted into the flesh or into a vein. The vast
majority of Sunni jurists hold this position.
The
Grand Mufti of India Mustafa Raza Khan (may Allah be pleased with him) says
about injection: "In fact, an injection does not invalidate the fast
because the medicine does not enter the stomach through an injection," (Fatawa
Mufti-e-Azam, Vol. 3, p. 203, Imam Ahmad Raza Academy, Bareilly Sharif)
Question:
Does Undergoing Dialysis While Fasting Invalidate The Fast Or Not?
Answer:
There are two procedures for dialysis (blood purification):
One
method of dialysis is Hemodialysis which involves the mechanical removal
of impurities, excessive salt, and excessive water from the blood, the
administration of medications, chemicals, and nutrients, and finally the return
of the blood to the body—all via the veins. Using this method won't invalidate
the fast because nothing enters the body through the natural orifice [Manfaz],
and nothing enters the stomach or brain either. Instead, blood from veins is
removed by machine, filtered, and then returned to the body through veins.
Hence, the fast is not broken if blood is drawn from or injected into a vein.
Another
method of dialysis is Peritoneal Dialysis. In this procedure, a hole is formed
in the abdomen of a patient up to the thick layer, after which a tube is
inserted into the outer membrane adjacent to the stomach, and then a special
type of liquid known as “peritoneal fluid” is injected into the stomach
membrane and then ejected. This process of surgery and delivering medicine is
similar to the method of delivering medicine to an abdominal wound—the method
which invalidates the fast according to the jurisprudential opinion of Imam-e-Aazam
Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him). The peritoneal dialysis procedure
will cause the fast to be broken; hence keeping the Qazaa fast will be
required.
When
medication is given to a wound that extends to the stomach or brain membrane of
a person, the fast will be invalid if the medication reaches the brain or
stomach. Whether the medication is dry or liquid, this rule still applies. Even
if the medication is passing through but its destination—the stomach or the
brain—is unknown, the fast will still be invalid. But, if the medication in
this case was dry (powder, etc.), the fast would not be broken. [Alamgiri
vol.5, p.789, cited in Bahar-e-Shariat]
Given
these jurisprudential statements, it is required that the kidney patient
observe the Qazaa of the fast as a precautionary measure if he undergoes
peritoneal dialysis.
Allah
knows the best.
(Continued)
--------
Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also
lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president,
founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul
Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in
Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah
Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina
Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti
in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of
the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder
of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi
Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Previous Articles:
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of
Ramadan
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan:
Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2
Thirty
Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating
Ramadan – Part 3
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention –
Part 4
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan:
Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar –
Part 8
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth
Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth
Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth
Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of
Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13
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