Question:

People that have asthma sometimes need to use an inhaler. By the inhaler a minuscule amount of air and medicine, in the form of powder[1], reaches the lungs. Even though it goes via the throat, it does not reach the stomach, rather it goes to the lungs. Is it permissible to use it while fasting?

باسمه سبحانه وتعالى

Answer: وبالله التوفيق

If a person with asthma cannot endure without using an inhaler but he is otherwise healthy, then what should he do? Concerning this the contemporary scholars have three opinions.

1. One opinion is that the inhaler breaks the fast. This is because particles of medicine reach a cavity, which along with the stomach include the lungs, through the orifice of the mouth, even though it may be in minute quantities. Therefore this person should not use the inhaler while fasting. He should fast without using the inhaler. If he is unable to fast in this manner then, due to this valid excuse, he should not fast at all. If he recuperates, he should make up the fast. (If he is a permanent or terminal asthma patient) then he should pay the fidyah.
   • This is the opinion of majority of the Ulama of the Indian Sub-Continent and the following muhaqqiq and exceptional scholars of Syria and Egypt, Dr. Wahabah Zuhaili, Dr. Muhammad Al-Alfi and Shaikh Muhammad Mukhtaar As-Sulaami.
2. The second opinion is that the inhaler does not break the fast. This is because the particles are very minuscule. Based on this, the said person would fast and continue using his inhaler. His fast will be valid and he does not even need to make a qadha later on.
   • This is the opinion of a number of Arab scholars like Shaikh Abdul Aziz ibn Baaz, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saalih Uthaimeen, Shaikh Abdullah ibn Jibreen and others. [Refer to مفطرات الصوم المعاصرة 39-44]
3. The third opinion is that such a person should be told to fast together with using the inhaler. However, if he recuperates, then he should make up those fast out of caution. But if he [is permanently or terminally ill and] does not recover, then he should pay the fidyah.
   • This third opinion is most cautious.

من أدخل بصنعه دخانا حلقه بأي صورة كان الإدخال فسد صومه سواء كان دخان عنبر أو عود أو غيرهما حتى من تبخر ببخور فآواه إلى نفسه واشتم دخانه ذاكرا لصومه أفطر لإمكان التحرز عن إدخال المفطر جوفه ودماغه. (مراقي الفلاح مع حاشية الطحطاوي, الصوم, باب في بيان ما لا يفسد الصوم 660 دار الكتاب ديوبند)

لو أدخل حلقه الدخان أي بأي صورة كان الإدخال حتى لو تبخر بخور فآواه إلى نفسه واشتمه ذاكرا لصومه أفطر لإمكان التحرز عنه

(شامي 3:366 زكريا)

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
(Hazrat Mufti Saiyyid) Muhammad Salman Mansurpuri (May Allah preserve him)
1413/2/4
Kitabun Nawazil Vol.6 Pg.386-7

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[1] Translated as is.