I underwent a minor brain surgery and took Benja (a medical anesthetic) for the procedure, and I was fasting on that day and completed my day fasting
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The questioner : I underwent a minor brain surgery and took Benja for the procedure, and I was fasting on that day and completed my day fasting after the procedure. Is this fasting valid, or is it obligatory for me to repeat it?
The Shaykh : The fasting is valid, and it is not obligatory for you to repeat it, because performing the surgery is not a nullifier of the fast nor a breaker of the fast for the one fasting. Here is a rule that our Muslim brothers should know: whenever a person performs an act of worship in a prescribed manner, we do not invalidate it except with evidence, because the original state is validity and the absence of a preventer. For example, if someone said, "Does eating this thing nullify the ablution?" we would say, "What is the evidence? Bring the evidence for this." If he does not bring evidence, the ablution remains as it is. If someone said, "Removing the sock after wiping over it nullifies the ablution," we would say to him, "Where is the evidence? Did it come from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever removes his shoe or sock after wiping over it must repeat the ablution?" If someone said, "The expiration of the wiping period nullifies the ablution," we would say, "Bring the evidence. Did it come in the Book and the Sunnah that whoever’s wiping period has expired, his ablution is invalid?" If someone said, "Movement in prayer, even if slight, invalidates the prayer," we would say, "Bring the evidence," and so on. For all acts of worship, if a claimant asserts that they are defective or that a person has done something that contradicts them, we demand evidence from him. So, regarding this man who underwent surgery while fasting, if it were said to him, "Your fast is invalid," we would say to the one who said that to him, "Bring the evidence," otherwise the fasting is valid. And we say in the answer that this man’s fasting is valid because there is no evidence of its defect.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : The fasting is valid, and it is not obligatory for you to repeat it, because performing the surgery is not a nullifier of the fast nor a breaker of the fast for the one fasting. Here is a rule that our Muslim brothers should know: whenever a person performs an act of worship in a prescribed manner, we do not invalidate it except with evidence, because the original state is validity and the absence of a preventer. For example, if someone said, "Does eating this thing nullify the ablution?" we would say, "What is the evidence? Bring the evidence for this." If he does not bring evidence, the ablution remains as it is. If someone said, "Removing the sock after wiping over it nullifies the ablution," we would say to him, "Where is the evidence? Did it come from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever removes his shoe or sock after wiping over it must repeat the ablution?" If someone said, "The expiration of the wiping period nullifies the ablution," we would say, "Bring the evidence. Did it come in the Book and the Sunnah that whoever’s wiping period has expired, his ablution is invalid?" If someone said, "Movement in prayer, even if slight, invalidates the prayer," we would say, "Bring the evidence," and so on. For all acts of worship, if a claimant asserts that they are defective or that a person has done something that contradicts them, we demand evidence from him. So, regarding this man who underwent surgery while fasting, if it were said to him, "Your fast is invalid," we would say to the one who said that to him, "Bring the evidence," otherwise the fasting is valid. And we say in the answer that this man’s fasting is valid because there is no evidence of its defect.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.