Ramadan

Things that break the fast

• Anything put into the mouth of a fasting person by force; putting oil into the ear; inhaling snuff into the nostrils.
• Water going down the throat while gargling, while aware of one's fast.
• Vomiting a mouthful intentionally, or returning vomit down the throat.
• Intentionally swallowing a pebble, a piece of paper or anything else that is not used as food or medicine.
• Swallowing something edible, the size of a grain of gram or bigger, that was stuck between the teeth. If it is first taken out of the mouth and then swallowed, it breaks the fast whatever its size.
• Swallowing blood from the gums when there is more blood than the saliva it is mixed with.
• Eating or drinking forgetfully, then, thinking the fast is already broken, eating and drinking again.
• Eating or drinking after dawn (Subh Sadiq), or breaking the fast before sunset because of a cloudy sky or a wrong clock, and then realising the mistake.

Things that do not break the fast

• Eating or drinking something unintentionally (forgetting that one is fasting).
• A mosquito, fly or anything else going down the throat unintentionally.
• Water entering the ears; dust or dirt going down the throat.
• Swallowing one's own saliva; taking an injection; applying surma (kohl) to the eyes.
• Taking a bath to keep cool; rubbing oil onto the body or hair.
• Vomiting unintentionally. A dream that makes ghusl necessary does not break the fast.
• Applying itr or perfume. Brushing the teeth without toothpaste or powder, for example with a miswak.

It is not permitted to inhale the smoke of lobaan or incense sticks (agarbatti) while fasting, nor to smoke cigarettes or inhale their smoke.