Does nasal spray break the fast?

Detailed answer

Many scholars today, including Islamic fiqh councils that studied modern medicines, hold that a normal nasal spray does not break the fast, provided you do not swallow what drips into your throat. A spray delivers a very small amount of medicine, mostly absorbed inside the nose. Even so, the nose is connected to the throat, so it deserves more care than eye or ear drops.

What the Sunnah says

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Rinse your nose thoroughly, unless you are fasting" (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi). This shows that the nose is a passage to the throat, and that a fasting person should be careful with what goes into it. For this reason, classical scholars held that liquid deliberately put into the nose which reaches the throat breaks the fast. Some scholars today still hold that nasal sprays and drops break the fast; if you are unsure, ask a trusted local scholar.

In practice

• Use it at suhoor and after iftar if your treatment allows. Many allergy sprays are designed to be used once or twice a day, which fits easily outside the fasting hours.
• If you need it during the day, use the smallest dose, keep your head upright and spit out anything that runs into your mouth.
• Do not sniff hard after spraying.
• Larger amounts, such as rinsing the nose with a saline bottle or neti pot, carry more risk of liquid going down, so keep these for the night.
• Never stop medication without speaking to your doctor, ideally one who understands fasting.

What about snuff?

Tobacco snuff sniffed into the nose is different: it is taken for pleasure and breaks the fast, like smoking does.

If you are unwell

A serious sinus infection or breathing problem may make fasting a real hardship. The Quran allows the sick to break the fast and make it up later: "Allah intends ease for you, not hardship" (Al-Baqarah 2:185).

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