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Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and serves as an act that shows the dedication and self-discipline of Muslims all over the world. A person will be considered fasting, especially during Ramadan, when one has not consumed any kind of food or liquid from the time of dawn until sunset. Then, the question would be, Do eye drops break fast hanafi? Especially about medicinal needs like applying eye drops.
What Constitutes Breaking a Fast?
A fast is broken, or “iftar,” when one intentionally consumes food, drink, or any substance that provides nutrition or has medicinal benefits through the natural major openings in the body. The majority of the laws formulated in the various schools of Islamic jurisprudence include entry through the mouth and nose because they connect directly to the stomach.
Do Eye Drops Break Fast in Hanafi Fiqh?
In the context of the Hanafi Fiqh, the concept of fasting is related to an act of abstaining from any substance that reaches the inner cavity of the body through any known natural inlet; this includes the mouth, nose, and other apertures directly leading into the stomach.
This very specific definition led Hanafi scholars to engage in much debate regarding eye drops breaking the fast, since classically, the eyes are not considered a direct inlet to the digestive system.
Things to Consider
Absorption into the Body: The main issue here tends to be whether there is some sort of substance that gets through the administration by eye drops into the stomach or the internal body cavities. According to the authority of the Hanafi scholars, the eyes are not a regular passage to the stomach, so administration via eye drops does not break the fast.
The substance absorbed through the eyes will most unlikely go down into the digestive tract. This thus corresponds with the general principles of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
Contemporary Medical Opinions: Medical experts have confirmed that eye drops do not normally reach the digestive tract, thus supporting the view that they do not break fasting. This would fall under the exact ruling as the Hanafi, reassuring that medication for the eyes is allowed for those who may need it when fasting.
Eye Drops and Digestion: A Scientific Perspective
From the scientific point of view, the anatomy of the eye does not allow for the substances to pass directly into the digestive system. The tear ducts drain into the nasal cavity, which further leads into the throat and could eventually reach the stomach if swallowed.
However, the amount of liquid from an eye drop is negligible, and the possibility of it entering the gastrointestinal tract is close to nil. Thus, the religious and scientific perspectives are in unison that administering eye drops does not invalidate a fast.
Examples of Other Types of Medicines
The ruling on eye drops is usually extended to other forms of medication, such as ear drops or nasal sprays. Hanafi scholars arrive at their argument based on the fact that whatever enters the body through a normal duct—for example, the mouth or the nose—will break the fast if it reaches the stomach or other inner cavities of the body.
However, eye drops, just like ear drops, do not fall under this category since they are not normal passages for food and drink.
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Practical Guidance to the Faithful
Those who fast, particularly during Ramadan, may need to have eye medication for various medical reasons such as glaucoma or infections. Hanafi scholars are of the view that such eye drops could be taken without fear of committing any wrong on the count of breaking the fast.
A ruling like this is particularly helpful for people who take regular medication due to chronic diseases. Thus, they can carry on with their routine work and keep fit, fulfilling religious duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, according to the Hanafi school of thought, eye drops do not breakfast because they don’t reach the stomach or brain via any recognized open orifice.
Yes, you can use eye drops for medical purposes while you are fasting; it does not break your fast in the Hanafi school.
It is permitted to use eye drops during the day when one is fasting, but some might prefer not to take the drops during daylight hours merely to avoid doubt. This, however, is not an obligation.
The ruling generally applies to all eye drops. However, if the eye drops contain a substance that reaches the throat and is swallowed, it may be a point of consideration, although this scenario is highly unlikely.
If it reaches the throat and you feel the taste, then good manners dictate avoiding swallowing, but the fast is still valid if one does not swallow intentionally.
Conclusion
The Hanafi school of thought provides a clear and compassionate ruling on the use of eye drops during fasting. The majority of the Hanafi scholars, however, are in agreement that eye drops are not a nullifier of fast because they do not reach the interior of the body through an open orifice leading to the stomach or the brain.
This understanding, therefore, allows the fasting person to use eye drops without fear, safeguarding both their spiritual and physical well-being during the Holy Month of Ramadan. In such cases, the dropping of eye drops is permitted, thereby further supporting the Hanafi madhhab in making Islamic practice as easy and approachable as possible.
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