𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 14 | 14 Sha’bān 1444H

In this lesson we are going discuss the matters which invalidate the fast. This is a crucial part in 'Kitāb Aṣ-Ṣiyām', because Ṣawm - as previously defined - is: to abstain from everything that invalidates the fast. As such, we have to know what these matters are in order to avoid them and preserve our fast. And because this discussion is going to be lengthy, we will spend a few lessons covering this subject [Part 1] Introduction We begin by mentioning 3 important points which will aid our understanding InshāAllāh: POINT 1: اليقين لا يزول بالشك "Certainty is not overcome by doubt" When a person begins fasting, he enters a state of certainty (his fast being valid) which is not removed except by a certainty like it. For this reason, we cannot establish that something invalidates the fast unless: (1) we have authentic evidence from the Qur'ān, Sunnah or ijmaa' to prove this, and (2) this evidence is clear beyond any doubt. Only then can we establish that this matter renders the fast invalid. POINT 2: These invalidators render the fast invalid WITH three conditions: The 1st condition: A person engages in them while knowing that they invalidate the fast. This condition excludes ignorance and Ta'weel (i.e. someone follows a scholarly opinion which states that this matter is not from the invalidators). Thus, if someone engages in any of the invalidators believing that it does not invalidate their fast, out of ignorance or due to holding a different opinion, their fast is not invalidated. The proof for this is the ḥadīth of ’Adiy ibn Ḥātim raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu, transmitted by Bukhāri and Muslim; when the Āyah concerning the white thread and black thread was revealed (Al-Baqarah 187), ’Adiy understood it literally, so he took a black thread and a white thread and placed them under his pillow and continued eating and drinking beyond dawn. When he informed the Prophet ﷺ, he ﷺ explained to him that the black thread refers to the darkness of the night and the white thread refers to the whiteness of dawnbreak, and he excused him due to ignorance. The 2nd condition: A person engages in them intentionally. This condition excludes forgetfulness; if someone engages in any of the invalidators forgetfully, their fast is not invalidated. The proof for this is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “If someone eats and drinks forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast.” [Bukhāri & Muslim] The 3rd condition: A person engages in them willingly. This condition excludes compulsion; so if someone is physically forced to break their fast and they do so unwillingly, their fast is not invalidated. The proof for this is the saying of Allāh (translated meaning): “Whoever disbelieves in Allāh after their belief—not those who are forced while their hearts are firm in faith, but those who embrace disbelief wholeheartedly—they will be condemned by Allāh and suffer a tremendous punishment.” [An-Naml 106] Note: Compulsion is ONLY applicable if: (1) the oppressor is able to see out his threat, (2) the victim is unable to repel them, (3) the threat is imminent, (4) obeying the oppressor will save them from what they're being threatened with, (5) the victim does not engage in the prohibited matter beyond necessity and (6) he does it unwillingly. POINT 3: When scholars discuss the matters which invalidate the fast, they do so in order to establish whether these matters invalidate the fast or not, irrespective of their legal rulings. So for example, if a scholar states that masturbating oneself does not invalidate the fast, this does not mean masturbation is PERMISSIBLE! And the opposite is also true; if a scholar invalidates the fast of a man who masturbates through his wife's hand, this does not mean this (the wife masturbating her husband) is NOT PERMISSIBLE! ___ Let us now begin mentioning some of the invalidators The three main invalidators are: 1⃣. Eating 2⃣. Drinking 3⃣. Sexual intercourse