The Ruling on Inhaling Ventolin Medication for a Fasting Person
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
This is similar to that question, but with an addition. He says: A medication called Ventolin is prescribed for asthma patients, and a quantity of water is added to this medication. The patient takes it via inhalation. Does this affect the patient's fast if he takes it while fasting, whether the patient is in an emergency situation or not?
The Shaykh:
If the inhaler contains a medicinal substance or water, as the questioner mentioned, this breaks the fast; because it enters the body cavity and follows the course of food. If there is a medicinal substance, this breaks the fast. The discussion is only if the asthma inhaler is just air, containing none of the substances or water.
The questioner:
Excuse me, in this case, I do not think it follows the course of food, but it goes to the two cavities.
The Shaykh:
It follows the course of drink. Yes, it follows the course of drink if it reaches his throat and descends into his body cavity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 407Sahih (Darussalam) Exaggerate in the inhalation of water. This is if there is water in the inhaler and he inhales it, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that. However, if he is in need of this, a sick person who needs this and it cannot be postponed, he makes up this day. He uses it and makes up this day; that is safer for his conscience and more cautious.
This is similar to that question, but with an addition. He says: A medication called Ventolin is prescribed for asthma patients, and a quantity of water is added to this medication. The patient takes it via inhalation. Does this affect the patient's fast if he takes it while fasting, whether the patient is in an emergency situation or not?
The Shaykh:
If the inhaler contains a medicinal substance or water, as the questioner mentioned, this breaks the fast; because it enters the body cavity and follows the course of food. If there is a medicinal substance, this breaks the fast. The discussion is only if the asthma inhaler is just air, containing none of the substances or water.
The questioner:
Excuse me, in this case, I do not think it follows the course of food, but it goes to the two cavities.
The Shaykh:
It follows the course of drink. Yes, it follows the course of drink if it reaches his throat and descends into his body cavity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
and sniff water up into your nostrils, thoroughly, unless you are fasting.
وبالغ في الاستنشاق إلا أن تكون صائما
Source
الفتاوى الفقهية في المسائل الطبية الرمضانية، الفتاوي الفقهية في المسائل الطبية الرمضانية — islamhouse.com (28:03)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.