Breaking fasting in order to undergo a computed tomography of the fetus
Fatwa No: 112854

Question

I am in the fifth week of my pregnancy and doctors have asked me to run a computerized tomography which requires a large quantity of water in my stomach by 10 am. So, I am obliged to drink water shortly before that time. What is the ruling on this?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

Drinking water deliberately in the day of Ramadan breaks one's fasting and entails making up for that day according to the unanimous agreement of the scholars. It is not permissible for the Muslim to drink water on the day of Ramadan without a serious necessity, because this is violation of sacredness of fasting. If it is possible to delay the computerized tomography until after breaking the fast at the sunset or after Ramadan, without entailing any harm on yourself or on the fetus, then you will not be allowed to drink. If undertaking the tomography is necessary and cannot be delayed, provided it would pose danger on you or on the fetus if delayed, it will be permissible not to fast on that day due to that necessity. However, note that the majority of scholars say that you are nonetheless required to abstain from any act that breaks the fast for the rest of the day and make up for that day later.

Allaah Knows best.

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