Lesson Four | Guidance for the Seeker | Jurisprudence of Fasting (for Beginners)

Feedback on Research Assignment (Infant Formula and Breastfeeding)
📌 The speaker noted that men submitted more research on the topic of infant formula and breastfeeding than women, despite the topic being highly relevant to women.
📝 The required research was to find rulings (fatwas) from contemporary scholars regarding the use of artificial milk during fasting periods, not just historical texts.
🔬 The core issue for the research was whether using artificial milk for a fraction of the day (e.g., one-third) for about 30 days poses a measurable harm to the infant, thus justifying the mother breaking her fast.

Rules and Rulings on Fasting Intention (Niyyah)
🗓️ For obligatory fasts (like Ramadan), the intention (Niyyah) must be set from the night before the fast begins, according to the saying, "Whoever does not intend to fast before dawn, there is no fast for him."
⭐ For voluntary (Nafl) fasts, the intention can be made during the day, even after the solar zenith (Zawal/midday), provided the person has not committed any act that breaks the fast (like eating or drinking).
🔍 The phrase "even after Zawal" implies there is a scholarly difference of opinion on whether daytime intention for Nafl fasts is permissible.

Acts that Nullify the Fast (Mufsidat)
🚫 Intending to break the fast (Azm 'ala al-Fatr), even without eating or drinking, invalidates an obligatory fast. For a Nafl fast, the intention can be renewed during the day if no invalidating acts occurred.
👃 Things entering the throat via the nose (e.g., nasal drops/sprays) or eyes (e.g., eye drops/Kohl) break the fast if the taste is perceived in the throat, as the nose and eyes are considered passages to the throat/stomach.
💨 Unintentional ingestion, such as a fly, dust, flour, or smoke entering the throat, does not break the fast because it is impossible to guard against it entirely.

Circumstances That Do Not Nullify the Fast
🛀 If water enters the throat accidentally during Wudu (ablution) or Istinshaq (rinsing the nose), even if done thoroughly, the fast remains valid because there was no intention (Qasd) to break the fast.
💭 Emission due to thought alone (thinking about intimate matters without looking at anything specific or physical contact) does not break the fast, based on the Hadith concerning what crosses the mind.
💧 If vomit is forcefully expelled (Istinshaq), the fast is broken, but if the person is overcome by vomit (Zar'ahu al-Qay'), the fast remains valid.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The speaker strongly emphasized that the majority of Fiqh issues involve scholarly disagreement; absolute "correct" rulings (Ijma') are rare, making it important to follow the adopted Madhhab/scholar for consistency.
➡️ Mistaking the time for prayer/fasting (e.g., eating after realizing it's daylight when one thought it was night) invalidates the fast because the action occurred during the daytime prohibition period, even if based on a mistaken belief.
➡️ Husbands were strongly advised to treat their wives with respect and piety ("Taqwa") concerning their rights, referencing the Prophet Muhammad's final advice regarding women.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Jan 27, 2026, 12:14 UTC