THE FIQH DEPARTMENT

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.
Although every Fiqh opinion is based on evidence, often times, the scholars differ in their views. This room for differences is a mercy from Allah, and as long as there is evidence to support an opinion, then we must respect scholars' views, even if we may not always agree.
The Prophet (SAW) said:
"Whoever performs Ijtihad and errs will receive one reward. Whoever performs Ijtihad and arrives at the correct answer gets double the reward"
(Bukhari) 
Ruling on a Fasting Person Cooling Himself Down PDF Print E-mail
Fiqh: Islamic Jurisprudence - Ramadan
Written by Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen   

Question:

What is the ruling on a fasting person cooling himself down?

 

Answer:

It is permissible for a fasting person to cool himself down, and there is no objection to it, for the Messenger sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to pour water over his head due to heat or thirst and he was fasting [1], and Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to wet his garment when he was fasting in order to alleviate the excessive heat and thirst. And the wetness has no effect, because in such cases water does not reach the stomach.

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[1] Reported by Abu Dawud in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: The Fasting Person May Pour Water Over Himself Due to Thirst (2365). 

 

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen 

Fatawa Arkaanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, Vol.2, p.663