Needs to remove his tooth during the day in Ramadan

24/03/2016| IslamWeb

Question:

Salam Alaykum, I am writing to get clearification on the matter of Fasting in Ramadan. Over my years of fasting, I never missed any fasting days. However, this year, I am in bit ackward postion. I have a pain in my teeths, which is called wisdom teeth. However, this causes for me to have severe pain. I need to go and remove this teeth during in daytime in Ramadan, but i will be certain that water and blood will enter my throat. I want to ask you if this is a valid excuse to stop fasting for one day. i want to go to night, but there is no dentist open at that time, and we breake our fast after seven o'clock.

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

First of all, it should be mentioned that whoever is able to delay the treatment of his teeth until the night during Ramadan and is not harmed by doing so, then he should delay it. That is because treating his teeth during the day could have some side effects which may force him to break his fast. However, if he could not delay the treatment and he is very much in need for it, then it is permissible for him to do so. Allah Says (what means): {Allah does not want to place you in difficulty.} [Quran 5:6]. In this case he may seek treatment during the day in Ramadan but he should not break his fast, and he should endeavor not to swallow anything during the treatment. Furthermore, taking an injection does not invalidate one's fast because it is neither food nor drink, nor is it a substitute for food or drink, and it does not reach the stomach trough the mouth or nose.

As regards limewater reaching the throat, if one predominantly thinks that something reaches his throat and is unable to spit it out, then he should not undergo this treatment unless he is sick a sickness which allows him to break the fast. Therefore, if one swallows what is mentioned in the question then his fast is void and he should make it up.

However, if it is very uncommon for someone to swallow this limewater and one tried his best to prevent anything from reaching his throat, yet something does reach his throat unintentionally, then this does not invalidate his fast. Allah Says (what means): {So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.}[Quran 64:16]. Moreover, the Prophet said: "Exaggerate when rinsing your nose unless you are fasting." [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah & An-Nasaa'ee]. Therefore, whoever does not exaggerate in rinsing his nose when performing ablution while fasting, yet some water reached his throat, his fast does not become void.
Allah Knows best.