Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims across the world fast from dawn to dusk. It often raises issues about any medication or personal care that could be seen as breaking the rules of keeping the body pure and clean during the fast.
This year, the Coronavirus Vaccine has become part of the concerns raised about whether getting the vaccine would break the fast, as well as potential side effects of feeling unwell after being vaccinated and reservations about taking daily pain relief medication.
Therefore, it is important to note that taking a COVID-19 vaccine will not break a fast during Ramadhan, as per the opinion of the Islamic scholars.
Dr. Wasim Ghori, Mumbai-based Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, said, “This has been a unique time globally with a number of faith periods and festivals including Easter, Vaisakhi and Eid – which marks the end of Ramadhan – which is likely to be celebrated amid some COVID-19 restrictions and adapted practices. Muslims and other faith communities have met these challenges head on; it was inspiring to see the community using technology for prayer and sharing images of iftar with family and friends at the start of the pandemic last year.”
Citing the opinion of Islamic scholars, Dr. Ghori added, that subcutaneous, subdermal, intramuscular, interosseous or intra-articular injections for non-nutritional purposes whilst fasting does not invalidate the fast, regardless of the injected content entering the blood circulation. These routes are not classed as entry sites that would invalidate the fast.
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as an intramuscular injection, the only route for the vaccines currently available, therefore does not invalidate the fast. It is important to note that a fasting person is not allowed to take food, water or medicine through the open passages such as the mouth, the nose, etc., or through intravenously.
Dr. Ghori added, “Vaccination is one of our biggest tools to make sure we can go back to normal soon, including celebrating festivals with our loved ones when it is safe to do so”.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 examination swabs that are taken from the nose or through blood drops do not break the fast, so it is permissible to take them, because the nasal swab does not contain any substance that enters the cavity, rather a sample is taken to be examined outside and the blood comes out.
Regarding the ruling on fasting, a Muslim may feel symptoms of fatigue as a result of COVID-19 or taking a vaccine, which prompts him to vomit or take painkillers. Dr. Ghori said that unintentional vomiting does not break the fast. The Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, said, “Whoever is overcome by vomiting, he does not make up the fast. Whoever vomits deliberately, let him make up the fast.”
If he does not take any of the medicines that break the fast, then his fast is valid, and if he takes painkillers, he has broken his fast and there is no blame for him to break the fast if he is tired and needs to break it, then he is sick and has to make up the fast.