Does Fainting Invalidate Fasting? – Shaykh Bassem Itani

Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani

Question

Does fainting invalidate fasting?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

Fainting, which is a state of unconsciousness whether short or prolonged, has several scenarios in relation to fasting:

First Scenario: Fainting during the Fast

Fainting during the day while fasting, whether for a short or long duration, does not invalidate the fast; it remains valid. This is similar to someone who sleeps during the day for a short or long period; it does not affect their fast.

Second Scenario: Prolonged Fainting from Dawn to Sunset with the Intention of Fasting Made at Night

If fainting extends from dawn to sunset, but the intention to fast was made the night before, the fast is valid. This is because the intention was valid, and the lack of consciousness afterward does not invalidate the fast. In this case, the ruling on fainting is similar to the ruling on sleeping.

Third Scenario: Prolonged Fainting for a Day without the Intention of Fasting Made at Night or for Multiple Days

If fainting extends for a day from dawn to sunset and there was no intention to fast from the night before, or if it extends for two or more days, then upon regaining consciousness, the fast must be made up. 

This is considered a type of illness and does not remove the obligation like insanity does; rather, it postpones it, so it must be made up later. This is supported by the verse:

“But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then (let them fast) an equal number of days (after Ramadan).” [Quran, 2:184] [Marghinani, al-Hidaya] 

Fainting and Coma

It is important to note that the classical jurists did not differentiate between fainting and coma and considered them to be the same, classifying them as short or prolonged based on the medical understanding of their time. We have mentioned the scenarios of fainting during fasting based on this classification.

However, today, doctors differentiate between fainting and coma. Fainting is a complete but temporary and sudden loss of consciousness, and the fainted person responds to external stimuli like a pinch or a prod, similar to someone who feels dizzy and loses consciousness for a few minutes.

On the other hand, a coma is a complete and prolonged loss of consciousness, where the person does not respond to external stimuli like a pinch, prod, or slap, such as in a diabetic coma.

In the past, it was not conceivable for someone to remain unconscious for ten days or a month because they would not receive food or drink, which would normally lead to their death.

However, with today’s medical advancements, an unconscious person can be nourished through intravenous fluids and can remain in a coma for an extended period, which is a reality that we observe.

Regardless of the old or modern classifications, this does not change the ruling.

[Shaykh] Bassem Itani

Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all. 

Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.

His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.