Can We Take Steam while Fasting?

Does inhaling steam break the fast? 

If a fasting person inhales the steam that results from him having a bath with hot water, this does not break the fast because it enters his body as he cannot help it and he does not do it deliberately. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: I am one of the workers in the public desalination plant. When the month of Ramadan comes, we are fasting and we continue to work, and there is steam at the station where we are working, and we often inhale it. Does this invalidate our fast? Do we have to make up that day during which we inhaled the steam, whether it was an obligatory or voluntary fast? And do we have to offer charity for each day? 

They replied: 

“If the matter is as described, then your fast is valid and you do not have to do anything.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 10/275)

Does sprinkling water on private parts after wet dreams to get the rest of the semen out count as masturbation?

You say: “I had no choice but to sprinkle hot water on my private parts in order to get the rest of the semen out”! 

The answer is that making the semen come out in this manner comes under the heading of masturbation which is haram, and this invalidates the fast and requires repentance as well as making up that day. 

This action of yours is a transgression of the sacred limits of Allah. The fasting person will not be punished for having a wet dream, because that is beyond his control, but as for deliberately emitting the rest of the semen, this is a transgression of the fast and invalidates it. We ask Allah to forgive us and you. 

• Follow up of the answer

“I am the person who asked question no. 93821 . You told me that I have to make up for that day because that is counted as masturbation. Please note that I was entirely ignorant of the fact that this is counted as masturbation, because I did not feel any pleasure or desire when I did that. 

 Now I want to know about the issue of fasting six days of Shawwal. When I received your answer, I had finished fasting six days of Shawwal, and when I made up for the day mentioned, I did that on the 23rd of Shawwal. This made me conclude that my fasting of the six days was not valid, because I had not completed the fast of Ramadan, so I had to repeat the six days of Shawwal after making up that day. Tomorrow is the 24th of Shawwal, i.e., I have to repeat the six days tomorrow, straight away, in order to complete the six days. My question now is, with regard to the six days that I already fasted, will they at least be regarded as a nafl fast for me? Or are they not valid at all?

Answer: 

If your use of hot water to bring out the rest of the maniy that was emitted as the result of an erotic dream was not accompanied by feelings of pleasure or desire, then your fast is valid, because the emission of maniy without pleasure does not invalidate the fast. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: ‘If maniy is emitted without desire, then his fast is still valid and he does not have to make it up.” (Majmu’ Fatawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin, 19/238) 

He also said: “If maniy is emitted without desire then it does not necessitate ghusl.” (Al-Sharh al-Kafi)

Based on that, your fast on that day of Ramadan was valid, and you do not have to make it up. As for your making it up on the basis of the above fatwa, that will be counted as a voluntary fast for you, in sha Allah, and your fasting of the six days of Shawwal that you did after fasting Ramadan is complete, praise be to Allah, and you do not need to repeat them.

For more, please see these answers: 289121 , 337521 , 66079 , and 38023 .

And Allah knows best.