Question:
My gums bleed continuously. When I am awake, I spit it out. However, when I am asleep, I have no control over the bleeding, and the blood enters the throat unintentionally. Bleeding is so severe that blood becomes more than the spit and saliva. As nights are very short, I have no choice but to sleep in the daytime.
What shall I do in Ramadhan? Does it invalidate my fast?
Answer:
الجواب باسم ملهم الصواب
If blood enters only the throat, but does not go into the stomach, it does not invalidate the fast.
If there is MORE OF SALIVA THAN BLOOD (i.e. its colour is yellow, not red), its passing into the stomach does not invalidate the fast, as long as one cannot taste blood in his throat. Whereas, if one can taste blood, it will invalidate the fast.
On the other hand, if there is MORE OF BLOOD THAN SALIVA (i.e. its colour is red) or they are in equal amount, it will invalidate the fast – even if one cannot taste blood in his throat.
In the above cases where the fast is invalidated, if blood enters the stomach UNINTENTIONALLY, e.g. whilst the person is asleep or for any other reasons, it seems reasonable to state that it will not invalidate the fast.
However, if one is expecting recovery from such a disease in the near future, one should not fast during Ramadhan and, instead, should make up for the missed fasts after Ramadhan. Whereas, if one is fasting during Ramadhan and blood enters the stomach UNINTENTIONALLY, one should make up for such a fast as a way of taking precaution.
Only Allah Knows the best.
Answered by:
Abdullah Fahim
Imam & Khateeb, Masjid Taqwa
Kyrwicks Lane, Birmingham
27th Ramadhan 1441 AH
احسن الفتاوى: ج 4، ص 447 -448
قال في الدر المختار: (أو خرج الدم من بين أسنانه ودخل حلقه) يعني: ولم يصل إلى جوفه، أما إذا وصل فإن غلب الدم أو تساويا فسد، وإلا لا، إلا إذا وجد طعمه
وقال في حاشية ابن عابدين: (قوله: يعني: ولم يصل إلى جوفه) ظاهر إطلاق المتن أنه لا يفطر وإن كان الدم غالبا على الريق، وصححه في الوجيز كما في السراج، وقال: «ووجهه أنه لا يمكن الاحتراز عنه عادة، فصار بمنزلة ما بين أسنانه وما يبقى من أثر المضمضة، كذا في إيضاح الصيرفي» اهـ (راجع: ج 6، ص 264-265، دار الثقافة والتراث)