The ruling on water entering the throat during ablution for a fasting woman

Question : O Shaykh Muhammad, this is a woman calling in on the line. She says: A woman was fasting in Ramadan, and during her ablution, water entered her throat. Does she have to make up the fast?

Answer : She does not have to make up the fast, because if food or drink enters the stomach without a person’s intention, it does not harm him in any way. So if a person is performing ablution and, while rinsing his mouth, water enters his stomach without his intention, his fast is valid. Likewise, if he sniffs water and it enters his stomach, his fast is valid, because it was without his intention.