Do Any of these Acts Break My Expiation[Kaffara] Fast?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: Asalam alaikam I am doing kaffarah (expiation) fast and done one month already but i have a lot of doubts about the validity of my kaffarah and keep worrying if I must restart it because i am already struggling.
Does one of these following scenarios invalidates my fast?
1) If one inserts his fingers down the throat as he is unsure if he swallowed something then takes the fingers out and then a few moments after he forgetfully reinserts the fingers to double check if nothing went down the throat forgetting about his fingers being wet.
2) If one sneezed and thinks something might have gone back into his mouth but not down the throat and he immediately spits it out.
3) Someone keeps thinking that he may have swallowed a nail or dry skin of the lip but can’t be certain
4)If saliva has appeared outside the mouth and went back down the throat.
All these scenarios are based on doubts not certainty.
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Your fasts to date are valid.
None of what you mention has invalidated any fast. A general principle to keep in mind is that certainty is not lifted by doubts. Any doubt is to be completely ignored. We do not act on misgivings. This is wrong, and completely contrary to the sunna.
As such, you should never stick your fingers into your throat, or do anything else most common Muslims wouldn’t do. The religion is ease, and none make it difficult except that it overwhelms them. Ask Allah to give you strength and tawfiq to complete the fasts.
See: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani