Terri Adams
10/10/2024 • 5 min read
Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims, marked by fasting from dawn until sunset. Fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and drink as well as other physical and mental pleasures. A common question that often arises, especially from Muslim-majority countries, is whether vaping breaks the fast. To understand this, we need to explore the principles of fasting in Islam and discuss more about vaping itself to see how it fits within these rules.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Based on what we've mentioned above, it's clear: Yes, vaping breaks a fast. According to Islamic teachings, fasting requires abstaining from anything that enters the body intentionally — whether it's food, drink, or substances. Vaping introduces vapour, often containing nicotine or flavouring, through the mouth or nose, which is enough to invalidate the fast. Even if you're vaping with the commendable goal of transitioning from cigarettes or quitting nicotine, the intent doesn't change the ruling — vaping still breaks the fast.
The Quran outlines fasting rules with clear and well-known guidance in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187): "Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread of night, then complete the fast until sunset." This commandment suggests that consuming anything, not just food or drink, goes against the spirit of fasting. Consuming doesn’t just refer to anything taken in through the mouth.
Inhaling vapour delivers substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream. Nicotine, in particular, acts like food and drink in that it provides stimulation, which contradicts the requirement to abstain from nourishment during fasting hours. Many scholars argue that this is comparable to eating or drinking and thus breaks the fast.
Sign up to FREESMO todayIslamic scholars have long ruled that smoking cigarettes breaks fast because of the intake of smoke and the chemicals it carries. Vaping is viewed similarly, as it delivers vapour laden with chemicals. Even though it may seem less harmful than smoking, the act of inhaling a substance is what invalidates the fast.
Moreover, vaping, like smoking, is discouraged not only because it breaks the fast but also due to the harm it causes to health. The Quran emphasises preserving health and avoiding harm (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195), which is why both practices are often regarded as contrary to Islamic teachings.
While there is some debate among scholars, many consider vaping to be haram (forbidden) due to the harm it causes. Islamic law prohibits actions that are damaging to one's health or lead to addiction, and nicotine, whether from vaping or smoking, is seen as harmful. Although vaping is considered about 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes or inhaling tobacco smoke, according to studies, it is not entirely risk-free.
Additionally, the addictive nature of nicotine can detract from the spiritual reflection and self-restraint that Ramadan seeks to cultivate. Ramadan is not only a time for physical abstinence but also a period of mental and spiritual purification. Engaging in activities that are harmful or addictive, even outside of fasting hours, contradicts the essence of the holy month. This holds true even if you're vaping without nicotine. You can read our detailed article Is Vaping Haram in Islam?
The fast is broken by any form of consumption, whether by eating, drinking, or inhaling substances. It’s not just about an extravagant feast with excessive drinking. The rules of Ramadan are broken by any form of intentional consumption, which includes:
These actions involve bringing something into the body, which is prohibited during the fast.
In theory, yes. There is definitely a difference. Vaping is strictly prohibited during fasting hours as it invalidates the fast by introducing substances into the body. However, after sunset, when the fast is broken, vaping is technically permitted. Despite this, many scholars still discourage it due to its harmful health effects and its potential to disrupt the spiritual purification that Ramadan encourages.
If you want to be sure that you're not breaking your fast during Ramadan, it's best to give up vaping during the holy month. If you're using it to quit smoking and are concerned, you won't last the whole day. At least wait until after sunset, when fasting hours are over.
