WHEN TO MAKE INTENTION FOR FASTING
Q: When must one make intention for fasting?
A: According to the Hanafi jurist it is desirable to make the intention during the night prior to subah sadiq (before fajr time starts). If the intention was not made during the night then the fast would be valid provided that the niyyah was made one hour before zawal and the person abstained from eating, drinking etc. The Shafi'es, Malikis and Hanbalis state that the intention must be made at night for Ramadhan fast, otherwise the fast is not valid. Cognizance must be taken of the fact that the intention refers to what is in the heart and utterance of it is not compulsory but permissible.

VOMITING WHILST FASTING
Q: If one vomits whilst fasting does it break the fast?
A: Nabi SAW said, “Whoever is over-powered by vomit there is no qadha upon him (the meaning of it, is if one vomits unintentionally then the fast is valid) and whoever vomits deliberately then upon him is qadha.” (Reported by Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). Cognizance must be taken of the fact that vomiting deliberately and a mouthful will break the fast according to the Hanafi jurist. However, the Shafi'es, Malikis and Hanbalis state that once the vomit is deliberately induced, it will nullify the fast irrespective of the amount.

CONJUGAL RELATIONS IN RAMADHAN
Q: Is it haram to have conjugal relations during the whole of ramadhan or only whilst fasting?
A: It is haram to have conjugal relationship whilst fasting. However, during the nights it is permissible.

Q: A husband and wife fulfilled their conjugal rights at night and made ghusal after fasting time commenced. Is their fast valid?
A: Their fast is valid. However, it is desirable to gargle one’s mouth and insert water into the nostrils before the fasting time starts.

CHEWING GUM WHILST FASTING
Q: Does chewing gum break the fast?
A: Yes, chewing gum breaks the fast.

LIP-BALMS WHILST FASTING
Q: Am I allowed to apply vaseline or lip-balm on my lips whilst fasting ?
A: It is permissible provided that nothing goes down the throat.

WATER IN EARS WHEN FASTING
Q: If water goes into the ears will the fast break?
A: In this instance the fast is valid, eg, when bathing.

MASTURBATION WHEN FASTING
Q: I masturbated whilst fasting, is my fast valid?
A: The fast is broken and qadha is compulsory. Cognizance must be taken of the fact that masturbating is sinful and immoral. One needs to repent as well but kaffara is not compulsory.

MINOR BROKE FAST
Q: My minor child kept her fast and then broke it in the afternoon. What happens in this instance?
A: There is no qadha upon the child as they are minors. Nabi SAW said: “The pen is removed from minors.” (Abu Dawud)

KISSING ONE’S WIFE WHILST FASTING
Q: Is it permissible to kiss ones wife whilst fasting?
A: The fast is valid but it is considered as undesirable. However, if one swallows the saliva of ones spouse then the fast will break.

DISCHARGE AFTER FONDLING WIFE
Q: I fondled my wife whilst fasting and when I went to toilet I saw a stain on my underwear – it was mazi (discharge), is my fast valid?
A: It is undesirable to fondle and kiss the wife whilst fasting. If ejaculation of semen takes place, then the fast is invalidated and qadha is compulsory. However, when mazi is discharged and not semen then the fast is valid but one should exercise caution in future.

TO SMELL ITR OR PERFUME WHEN FASTING
Q: Is it permissible to smell itr and perfume whilst one is fasting?
A: It is permissible and the fast is valid.

TRAVELLER IN RAMADHAN
Q: A traveller (musafir) experiences much difficulty in fasting during Ramadhan, what is the ruling regarding such a person?
A: Nabi SAW said: “It is not of piety to fast during a journey.” (Bukhari Shareef). On another occasion some people continued fasting during a journey although it was extremely difficult. Nabi SAW said: “They are the sinners.” (Muslim Shareef) Therefore, the Hanafis, Shafi'es and Malikis state that it is better to fast for a musafir provided that there is no difficulty upon him. However, if there is extreme difficulty due to the climate, means of conveyance, then it is better not to fast but keep qadha after Ramadhan. The Hanbalis state that it is better to abstain from fasting whilst travelling in all circumstances.

Q: Some people conveniently become travellers during Ramadhan so that they do not have to fast, is this permissible?
A: Qadha of all the missed fast will be compulsory upon them, obviously they will not be able to reap the reward of fasting in Ramadhan. It is a sad state of affairs when Muslims avoid their obligations and try and look for loopholes.

MISWAK WHILST FASTING
Q: Is it true that according to the Shafi'es, one should not make miswak after zawal during Ramadhan?
A: Nabi SAW used to make miswak at all times during Ramadhan. Therefore the vast majority of jurists, namely, Hanbalis, Hanafis, Malikis state that it is sunnah to make miswak during the day whilst one is fasting and during the night. Imam Nawawi RA, who was one of the greatest Shafi'e jurist, stated that it is permissible for Shafi'es to use the miswak during the afternoon as well as whilst fasting. (Fathul Qarib al-Mujeeb by Sheikh Ahmad bin Husain, page 5)

Q: If one swallows the bristles of the miswak, does the fast break?
A: The fast does not break if the bristles of the miswak are swallowed. (Ahsanul Fatawa by Mufti Rashid Ahmad Saheb, vol 4, page 445).