Does inhaling incense during the day in Ramadan break the fast or not?
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The questioner : This questioner, R.M.K. al-Shahri, we reviewed some of his questions in a previous session. In this question, he asks: Does inhaling incense during the day in Ramadan break the fast or not?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. The things that break the fast of the fasting person must have evidence for them from the Book or the Sunnah or scholarly consensus; otherwise, the original ruling is that the fast is valid and not invalid.
The things that break the fast are known in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. If it reaches the inner part of the stomach, it is forbidden, I mean inhaling, and it breaks the fast for the one who knows that it is forbidden and that it breaks the fast. But if the person is ignorant and does not know, then it does not break the fast by that, and this is a rule for all the things that break the fast.
All the things that break the fast, if a person does them while not knowing that they break the fast, then they do not break the fast by them. This is due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] and His saying: [Al-Ahzab 33:5] And because it is established in Sahih al-Bukhari from Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the people broke their fast on a cloudy day in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and then the sun appeared, and it was not reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to make up the fast. If making up the fast had been obligatory, he would have ordered them to do so, and it would have been transmitted to us, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cannot delay the conveyance of the message from the time it is needed. And if he conveyed it, it must be transmitted, because once he conveys it, it becomes part of the Shari'ah of Allah, and the Shari'ah of Allah is preserved.
The important point is that when the Companions broke their fast on the cloudy day in the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and then the sun appeared, and it was not reported that they were ordered to make up the fast, that was evidence that the one who is ignorant does not have to make up the fast.
As for forgetfulness, it is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 1155
Based on this, we say to the questioner: Do not inhale incense while you are fasting, but use it for fragrance, and there is no blame on you. And if some of the smoke reaches your nose without intention, it does not harm.
We also say that if you did not know that it breaks the fast, and you were using it before, meaning you were inhaling incense until it reached your stomach, then you owe nothing. Because all the things that break the fast do not break the fast unless the person is aware of them, aware of their prohibition, and mindful of them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. The things that break the fast of the fasting person must have evidence for them from the Book or the Sunnah or scholarly consensus; otherwise, the original ruling is that the fast is valid and not invalid.
The things that break the fast are known in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. If it reaches the inner part of the stomach, it is forbidden, I mean inhaling, and it breaks the fast for the one who knows that it is forbidden and that it breaks the fast. But if the person is ignorant and does not know, then it does not break the fast by that, and this is a rule for all the things that break the fast.
All the things that break the fast, if a person does them while not knowing that they break the fast, then they do not break the fast by them. This is due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأناAnd there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended
وَلَيسَ عَلَيكُم جُناحٌ فيما أَخطَأتُم بِهِ وَلكِن ما تَعَمَّدَت قُلوبُكُمThe important point is that when the Companions broke their fast on the cloudy day in the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and then the sun appeared, and it was not reported that they were ordered to make up the fast, that was evidence that the one who is ignorant does not have to make up the fast.
As for forgetfulness, it is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
من نسي وهو صائم فأكل أو شرب فليتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهBased on this, we say to the questioner: Do not inhale incense while you are fasting, but use it for fragrance, and there is no blame on you. And if some of the smoke reaches your nose without intention, it does not harm.
We also say that if you did not know that it breaks the fast, and you were using it before, meaning you were inhaling incense until it reached your stomach, then you owe nothing. Because all the things that break the fast do not break the fast unless the person is aware of them, aware of their prohibition, and mindful of them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.