Fasting in this year in severe cold as expected, and the prevalence of people lighting fires for the purpose of heating
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The questioner : Fasting in this year in severe cold as expected. And the prevalence of people lighting fires for the purpose of heating. And smoke comes out of this fire which may enter the human body due to his proximity to the fire. So what should he do? Does he break his fast because of it?
The Shaykh : He does not break his fast. That is to say, if there is smoke around a person from wood or from incense, it does not harm him, even if he takes the incense burner and drapes his ghutrah over it; it does not harm him. What causes harm is if he inhales the smoke, because if he inhales it, it enters his body. As for merely smelling the scent of smoke, or being in a room where a fire has been lit and smoke is coming out of it, that does not harm him, even if it enters his nose; it does not harm him. For example: if a person, on days other than these, were to swim in a pool and submerge himself in it, and water entered his stomach, it would not harm him, because he did not do it intentionally. From this point, I hear many people asking about incense for the fasting person, thinking that mere smoke breaks the fast. And this is a mistake. It does not break his fast unless he inhales it and it enters his body. Yes. And if he inhales rose water and feels it in his throat, does he break his fast or not? He does not break his fast, because it has no substance; it is merely a scent. Therefore, also, if he smells basil, basil leaves, and feels it in his throat, it does not harm him. Yes.
The Shaykh : He does not break his fast. That is to say, if there is smoke around a person from wood or from incense, it does not harm him, even if he takes the incense burner and drapes his ghutrah over it; it does not harm him. What causes harm is if he inhales the smoke, because if he inhales it, it enters his body. As for merely smelling the scent of smoke, or being in a room where a fire has been lit and smoke is coming out of it, that does not harm him, even if it enters his nose; it does not harm him. For example: if a person, on days other than these, were to swim in a pool and submerge himself in it, and water entered his stomach, it would not harm him, because he did not do it intentionally. From this point, I hear many people asking about incense for the fasting person, thinking that mere smoke breaks the fast. And this is a mistake. It does not break his fast unless he inhales it and it enters his body. Yes. And if he inhales rose water and feels it in his throat, does he break his fast or not? He does not break his fast, because it has no substance; it is merely a scent. Therefore, also, if he smells basil, basil leaves, and feels it in his throat, it does not harm him. Yes.