Praise be to Allaah.
The gastroscope is a medical instrument that isinserted into the
stomach via the mouth, and is usedeither to take a picture of the
stomach or to take a sample for examination, or for other medical
purposes, then after the procedure is complete, the instrument is
removed via the mouth.
The scholars differed as towhether, if something reaches the stomach,
it invalidates the fast in all cases, whether it is provides
nourishment or not, or does it not invalidate the fast if it does not
provide nourishment?
Three madhhabs are of the view that the fast is broken by everything
thatenters the stomach: the Maalikis, the Shaafa'is and the Hanbalis.
Based on that, this gastroscopy does invalidate the fast.
The Hanafis agreed with them that everything thatreaches the stomach
invalidates the fast, but they stipulated that it should remain in the
stomach.
Based on that, gastroscopy does not invalidate the fast, because it
does not remain in the stomach, rather it is removed once the
procedure is completed.
See: Tabyeen al-Haqaa'iq by al-Zayla'i (1/326); al-Majmoo' (6/317);
al-Sharh al-Kabeer (7/410); Sharh Muntaha al-Iraadaat (1/488);
Bidaayah al-Mujtahid (2/153).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was of the
view that the fast isnot broken unless a nourishing substance reaches
the stomach. He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The more correct
view is that the fast is not broken by swallowing something that does
not provide nourishment, such as swallowing a pebble. End quote from
Majmoo' al-Fataawa (20/528).
Based on this view, this gastroscopy does not invalidate the fast, and
this view is more likely to be the correct one, because the text only
indicates that eating and drinking spoil the fast. Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning):
"and eat and drink until the white thread (light) ofdawn appears to
you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night),then complete
your Sawm(fast) till the nightfall
[al-Baqarah 2:187].
The gastroscope is neitherfood nor drink, and is not akin to food or
drink, because the body does not benefit from it and is not nourished
by it.
But, if any kind of greasy substance is put on the gastroscope to make
it easier to insert it into the stomach, or some saline solution is
introduced via the gastroscope to clean itand make it easier to
takeimages, then the fasting person's fast is invalidatedwhen this
substance reaches the stomach, because the body will absorb it and be
nourished by it, so it is like food and drink.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Sharh
al-Mumti' (6/370, 371) – when explaining that everything that reaches
the stomach invalidates the fast according to the madhhab of Imam
Ahmad– : If a person has a gastroscope inserted and it reaches the
stomach, then this breaks the fast [i.e., according to the Hanbali
madhhab]. But the correct view is that it does not break the fast
unless there is any grease or the like on the gastroscope that may
reach the stomach via the gastroscope. In that case it breaks the
fast, and it is not permissible to use it during an obligatory fast
except in case of necessity. End quote.
In a statement of the Islamic Fiqh Council it says:
The following things are not regarded as breaking the fast: …
gastroscope if it is not accompanied by introduction of fluids
(solutions) or any other substance. End quote.
Majallat al-Majma' (10/2/453-455).
To sum up: If the gastroscope is inserted into the stomach without
introducing any other substances, then it does not break the fast, but
if some greasy substance or anything else is introduced with it then
it does invalidate the fast.
See: Mufsidaat al-Siyaam al-Mu'aasirah by Dr. Ahmad al-Khaleel, p. 39-46.
And Allaah knows best.
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