FatwaKedahFasting
(SIRI 6/2021) HUKUM MENJALANI UJIAN SARINGAN PERUBATAN (NASOPHARYNGEAL SWAB) COVID-19 KETIKA BERPUASA DI BULAN RAMADHAN
Does a COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab screening test break the fast during Ramadan?
Short answer
The COVID-19 screening procedure, which takes mucus samples from the nose up to the nasopharynx and from the mouth up to the oropharynx, does not invalidate the fast during daytime in Ramadan.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Kedah State Mufti Department
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad Al-Fatwa
- Topic
- Fasting
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The COVID-19 screening procedure, which takes mucus samples from the nose up to the nasopharynx and from the mouth up to the oropharynx, does not invalidate the fast during daytime in Ramadan. This is based on specialist doctors' explanation that the swab does not reach the areas that would break the fast, although doing the test at night is better. Positive patients under monitoring who need medication may skip the fast and must make it up, while those not needing medication must fast as usual unless fasting worsens their harm on medical advice.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Prosedur saringan untuk mengesan penyakit COVID-19 dengan mengambil sampel lendir (mukus) yang berada di dalam kawasan hidung sehingga ke kawasan rongga hidung paling atas (nasopharynx)
Read the full fatwa on the Kedah website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Kedah State Mufti Department. “(SIRI 6/2021) HUKUM MENJALANI UJIAN SARINGAN PERUBATAN (NASOPHARYNGEAL SWAB) COVID-19 KETIKA BERPUASA DI BULAN RAMADHAN”, date not stated. https://ifatwa.kedah.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/8-HUKUM-MENJALANI-UJIAN-SARINGAN-PERUBATAN-NASOPHARYNGEAL-SWAB-COVID-19-KETIKA-BERPUASA-DI-BULAN-RAMADHAN-SIRI-6.pdf. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-covid-19-swab-test-while-fasting/