Does an inhaler for a sick person break the fast during the day in Ramadan, and what should he do?
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The questioner : The question asks about a person who has asthma, which is a chronic condition, and uses treatment continuously. He tries as much as possible not to use the treatment while fasting so that he does not break his fast. However, there is an inhaler used through the mouth that he only uses in necessary cases. Does this type of treatment break the fast? If so, what should he do? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this question, asked by the person with asthma who needs this inhaler that opens the air passages, is that if this inhaler does not reach the stomach, but is only for cooling the throat and opening the air passages, then it does not break the fast.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if a substance reaches the stomach, then it breaks the fast. If he needs it constantly and continuously, then its ruling is the ruling of the old man who feeds one poor person for every day, and this suffices him instead of fasting. So this treatment has two cases. The first case is that it has no substance that reaches the stomach; in this case, it does not harm him if he uses it while fasting, and it does not break the fast. The second case is that it has a substance that reaches the stomach; in this case, it breaks the fast. However, if he needs it because of this illness that has afflicted him, then he uses it and feeds one poor person for every day.
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this question, asked by the person with asthma who needs this inhaler that opens the air passages, is that if this inhaler does not reach the stomach, but is only for cooling the throat and opening the air passages, then it does not break the fast.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if a substance reaches the stomach, then it breaks the fast. If he needs it constantly and continuously, then its ruling is the ruling of the old man who feeds one poor person for every day, and this suffices him instead of fasting. So this treatment has two cases. The first case is that it has no substance that reaches the stomach; in this case, it does not harm him if he uses it while fasting, and it does not break the fast. The second case is that it has a substance that reaches the stomach; in this case, it breaks the fast. However, if he needs it because of this illness that has afflicted him, then he uses it and feeds one poor person for every day.