Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi
has ruled out "fasting and drinking at the same time". PHOTO: AFP
"Those who cannot bear extreme thirst can drink just enough water to quench it. This would not break their fast," said the fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Assadollah Bayat Zanjani, who is seen as close to reformers.
But his fatwa quickly came under fire from another high ranking cleric, Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi.
He ruled out "fasting and drinking at the same time", and reiterated that any break in the fast must be compensated for by fasting on some other day in the year.
Media reports also referred to decrees by supreme leader Ali Khamenei and Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani according to whom "a state of weakness or thirst does not merit a break in the fast".
But Zanjani, who is based in the holy city of Qom, said Islam allows some breaks in fasting.
He said this would depend on "certain climatic and geographical conditions", given that in countries such as Iran Ramazan fasting can last up to 16 hours in summer.
Those who "fall sick when fasting or if the fasting deteriorates an existing illness", or "workers who work hard for a long day" can drink if it means their survival, Zanjani said on his website.
People in such cases also do not have to compensate by fasting on some other day, he added.
"Imam Sadegh (the sixth Shia imam) himself said that people can drink if it is to save their lives," Zanjani argued.
During Ramazan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex between sunrise and sunset.
COMMENTS (31)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714129906-0/Clint-Eastwood-(1)1714129906-0-270x192.webp)
Is it applicable to Muslims ? Or just Shias ?
@Muhammed Usama Aziz:
"Please go and have some basic knowledge then you will know the purpose of fasting."
Almost 100 people are hospitalized in Pakistan every day during Ramzan due to stomach problems.
Fasting is very good. Gandhi did it.
But fasting like in Ramzan is simply bad for ur health.
U eat a lot before working and then again eat a lot after fasting.
That's extremely bad for your digestive system.
A reminder for all the reformists who are also Muslims: Islam is a religion for all times and this is not the first time that the duration of fast in some countries is stretching up to 18 hours...it has been happening since centuries before the invent of ACs and relaxation in Office timings and the spoilt people who would feast all night! So it will always stay the way it is...you guys need to understand and adapt!
@Water Bottle: Ignorance is still better than deliberate ignorance which is the case with around 800 million hindus
@Babloo: With all respect there is not one but many gods for hindus i.e. raam, krishna, ganesh, hanoman, etc. Only Jews and Muslims share the conceot of one God, while Christians have two Gods in practice i.e God and Jesus who they call son of God and hence the Father and Son theory> Fasting has been part of Judism and Christanity too even in Hinduism women fast for their husbands which is better than to burn themselves alive at the death of their husbands as satti. In theory Christains need to fast for two months. In theory alsio Alcohol is not allowed in Judism and Christanity also but when people want to deviate they craete excuses like Christians say one of their sanits allowed alcohol.
and tahir ul qadri says one can taste during fast. wht if i need a whole plate to tates :D and wht if a whole jug quench my thirst?
Fasting in limits is good and beneficial. But, what makes it bad for health in Ramzan is that it is just not fasting but is actually fasting and feasting and that too feasting at odd times. I have seen that in the gulf countries they start feasting from the evening and feasting goes on throughout the night until the fasting time comes. The whole day the woman and servants will be cooking numerous dishes. In most islamic countries both men and woman add 10 lbs. to 30 lbs. to their body weight in just this one month. This type of fasting and feasting is unhealthy.
Fatwas are dime a dozen .... A few years ago a "Mufti" in US declared that it is halal to buy one house and one car financed by interest bearing loans because a person is doing so to provide shelter to his family. He got really mad when I asked him if could also make one girlfriend halal for me as well since I could not afford to marry anyone at that time.
This is not a comment. I wrote a 4 pages Article entiteled as: "Fasting & Soul of Intellect - REV3", the Synopsis of which is as follows:
Synopsis
Every now and then we see various approaches made by businessmen for controlling our weight; but in all those approaches one important parameter is missing and that parameter is the very powerful soul of intellect that we all have but do not have the knowledge on how to use it; as it is this soul that among other things could guide us on how to have a healthy body; and a body which is in proper form and shape by proper fasting.
The materials listed below first outlines the Hypothesis behind the proposal presented in this Article (see Part I) simply explaining on “how to make the best use of fasting”; while in Part II the extraordinary outcome of the application of this Hypothesis is shown; that is, the attached blood test results indicate that over one month the LDL (Bad) Cholesterol drop from 6.8 to 5.0.
Please let me know if you are willing to publish it.
Ramadan, not Ramazan.
"The religion of God Almighty ..needs reformation The Final Revelation needs ammendments God needs to rethink his strategy" . what next
If you can drink while fasting than why fast in the first place? I think this cleric intentionally gave out such a fatwa to either get famous s or on behest of someone else. Reminds us of how Christianity (the priests and ministers) allowed wine during celebrations first than eventually allowed completely.
I have lived in the gulf countries for many years and have seen many Ramzans. What I can say is that during Ramzan, the office staff visit the bathrooms more frequently and are also in there longer than usual. I do not know if their frequent and longer duration visits is to sip some water and have some snacks secretly or just to wash themselves.
The break in fasting is allowed only if the person is unwell for, which he/she will have to compensate by fasting another day. This opinion is ridiculous. However, housewives are allowed to taste a bit of the food to ensure it is properly cooked. Fasting is not only abstinence from food and liquids, it is abstinence and control over your 'nafs.' Salams
I think people should be allowed to eat as well like fruits which is also permissible in other religions during thier fasting...... And we should welcome the 21st century with open hands and reformation
you need to relax ..
@Water Bottle: You used to leave reasonable comments. Whatever happened to you?
Voluntary fasting , prayer is all very good. It may help you think about the blessings that you enjoy, meditate and enjoy peace and bliss. So yes , Ramazan fasting can be good. However when it becomes a social compulsion it tends to become tyranny for those who are thus forced.
This is the most sensible thing I've ever heard from a Muslim cleric. Clearly Islam could have a reformation and enter the 21st century.
@Water Bottle
There are no words to describe your arrogance which you have repeatedly displayed on these pages and continue to do unabashedly.
@Water Bottle: @Babloo: The problem with illiterate people like you is that they don't know have knowledge of Islam and whenever they see anything regarding it, they start shouting. Please go and have some basic knowledge then you will know the purpose of fasting. Its useless to debate illiterate people like you.
@Water Bottle: there are many words to describe ignorance in the world of 1 billion HINDUS. but cannot be described on this forum.
Let me ask a basic question. We all agree that if there is a God , there is one God for all . The God of Muslims cannot be different from whom Hindus refer to as God . So if there is just one God for all ( assuming you believe in one God and not seperate Gods for separate religions and countries ) , do you think that God is angry with all those who are not fasting ? Maybe God only cares for your actions , like helping poor, being kind etc and not what and when you choose to eat or drink. That's your business and most likely God doesn't care about it.
these people give fatwas with no logic, too many muftis...
This is just an extension of the ages old debate between the ' literalists ' and the ' idealogues '.
If you can't keep a fast then don't keep it. Fasts last much longer in Europe and the US. 16 hours is very common, that is no excuse!
If you are weak then dont keep it period. There are relaxations in which the sick don't have to keep a roza but you can't just break it. That's stupendous
Why do you want a laborer or someone working on the field, mine, construction in 100 F temperature to not drink water the whole day ?
You think God has a big ego that needs to be satisfied by humans ? fasting, praying should be individual exercises and not communal events enforced by someone.
The mullahs can stay in shade , relax , slppe and not drink but what about the working man ?
What is next? Eat a little bit in extreme hunger. What's wrong with them people?
Is it applicable to all Muslims ? Or just Shias ?
There are no words to describe the ignorance in the world of 1.5 billion muslims.
That is his opinion or ruling. I do the taqleed of Ayatullah Sistani, according to whom “a state of weakness or thirst does not merit a break in the fast”.
The thing is these are really esteemed religious scholers, they don't have to agree with themselves on every topic. I do agree that if they do drink water to lets say save their lives, they still would need to make it up after Ramadan.