Originally Posted by
SyedShah
Assalamu alaikum!
This is my first post on sunniforum.com; I seek guidance from those who are more educated than I on the Maliki ruling on the following question:
"for medical testing reasons, would the drawing of a drop of blood during daylight hours void the fast of that day during Ramadan"
Some background on me - this is will be my first Ramadan after being diagnosed with a chronic disease called diabetes (type 2) in December 2010, before which I have observed Ramadan for the previous 20 years (I am 30). The purpose of taking a drop of blood several times throughout the day would be to monitor my blood sugar levels, to see if my sugar has gone dangerously low, so I would know for example, if I should avoid driving/using heavy machinery or in the extreme case, break my fast early due to ill health if for example I was about to go unconscious.
I am otherwise healthy and plan to consult with my doctor for advice prior to observing the month of fasting ahead.
Thank you for the link to the Maliki audio resources with regards to Ramadan. I am listening to them right now.
Update on the question I raised.
Below are my learnings from the audio files on Ramadan Fiqh Malik - Brother Muhammad Rami Nsour- Zaytuna Institute (Zaytuna.org) in relation to Malikis who have diabetes and are interested in fasting during Ramadan. Please listen to these files and do not read what I have typed alone to make your own decisions. All the information below is my own text from what I learned from the audio files and I have referenced where in the recording that sub-topic is discussed.
I personally have no Islamic authority, and you must not use my interpretation as a primary reference for your own Islamic practice.
It is not my intention to have typed anything incorrectly, or to have paraphrased Brother Muhammad Rami Nsour incorrectly. May Allah forgive me for any mistakes in the following post.
Blood letting during Ramadan - (covered in the 7th minute in the the second audio file)
"Blood letting is not disliked unless doing it will cause over exhaustion and require the person to break their fast"
I believe this implies it would be permissible to check my blood sugar whilst fasting.
Further learning regarding Malkis who are diabetic - if you are interested read on.
Intention.
For a Maliki for whom it is obligatory to fast for every consecutive day of Ramadan, just one intention at the beginning of the month is allowed without the need to renew every night.
However, those who through chronic disease that could excuse them from fasting and decide to to fast anyway, under the Maliki fiqh, are required to make/renew intention for fasting the next day every-night. This is because you need yaqeen (100% certainty) when you make intention, and if you have any doubt when you make your intention, the fast is not acceptable. (the last sentence is my interpretation)
Shafi and Hanbalis use the following as a proof of the permissibility of breaking a non-obligatory fast: "The one who is fasting a non-obligatory fast is the leader of his fast"
However, Malikis are taught to interpret this meaning that yes, you do have a choice, up until the moment you make an intention to Allah that you will fast - upon which time it becomes obligatory upon you to complete it unless you have a valid reason. (this in relation to non-obligatory fasting outside of Ramadan.)
As for those whom fasting during Ramadan is obligatory, if you have a valid excuse not to fast, you need to make it up once that valid reason ceases to be. If that valid reason persists (e.g. too old or sick and will never get better) then see the end of this post.
Diabetic Malikis wanting to fast - (covered in the 59th minute in the the first audio file).
For diabetics if your sugar goes really low it can really harm you.
If you are diabetic and choose to fast - taking advice from a medical professional is strongly advised.
A medical professional in this context maybe described as:
A qualified medical person who understands your personal medical circumstances, has a relevant understanding of your disease and the importance of fasting to Muslims.
If you know from prior experience or from a medical professional that fasting could seriously harm you, then you should not fast. By fasting, such a diabetic may actually be disobeying Allah if by fasting it would cause him serious harm. In such a case it would be haram for that person to fast.
What if your diabetes is under control?
e.g. If from your own prior experience or from the advice from a well informed medical professional you know that you could fast without serious harm to yourself.
If your medical professional says it can make you a little sick - i.e. you will get ill with something like a fever or a cold, it would be permissible for you to fast but it is better for you NOT to fast.
Diabetic Medication.
Anything hitting the back of your throat will break your fast.
Even burning incense or using scents on your body is makhroo and will break your fast if you inhale any physical element of it. This can even apply to showering if there is enough steam produced for you to inhale to the back of your throat. It is advisable if you want a HOT shower to take it before fajr or after maghrib.
So if you are on pills like Metformin, you will need to adjust your doses so you can take them when you are not fasting. If you normally have a mid-day does, talk to your doctor about how you could adjust your doses or medication during Ramadan.
A mere injection wont break the fast.
something like an IV drip (intravenous drip) may break your fast but not necessarily - (64minutes in second audio file) - "The point is not to allow something of substance to reach your throat or stomach".
What if you have asthma?
Using an inhaler will break your fast but you have to make it up.
Blood letting/testing during Ramdan - (covered in the 7th minute in the the second audio file).
"Blood letting is not disliked unless doing it will cause over exhaustion and require the person to break their fast"
With this in mind you can probably test your blood sugar and not break your fast.
Breaking the fast out of forgetfulness or illness - (covered in the 36th minute in the the second audio file).
If this happens, your fast is not considered a valid fast, after Ramadan you have to make up that day when you are well again. If you are fit to fast or become fit to fast again on that day, it is haram for you to eat or drink even though your fast that day does not count. As it is considered a good enough reason - all you have to do in this circumstance is make up your fast when you are fit again.
Voluntary expiation during Ramadan for the old or chronically sick - (covered in the 19th minute in the the second audio file).
If you are not fasting because you are old, or you are chronically sick (you will never get better and believe you will never be able to fast again, i.e. never be able to make up your fasts) it is recommended to give one Moudh (0.51 litres) of food a day but it is not obligatory.
Re: Fiqh of Ramadan [Maliki]
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