Assalumu alaikum Maulana,

I hope you are well and in the best of health.

I have a question regarding the use of intermittent catheters during fasting. I have recently had an operation done in order remove a urethral stricture and i am required to use an intermittent catheter 3 times a week in order to drain the bladder. With Ramadan approaching soon, I wanted to find out whether or not the use of these catheters would break the fast.

Also, I would like your advice on the basis that due to the operation, I am required to drink 2 liters of water daily. Therefore, I am questioning whether or not to fast. If my doctor informs me not to fast, then would this be a valid reason to miss fast. I understand that with the inability to fast, the person must offer fidya.

Jazak’Allah

P.S I know you are very busy, so I will be than happy with a short answer

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Answer

Walaikumussalam w w

If a man uses catheter during fast, his fast will not break. This is because the catheter does not go inside the belly, the mathana (bladder) provides a barrier from reaching inside. This is the view of imam Abu Hanifa and imam Muhammad. Fataawa hindiyyah states that the fatwa is upon this qawl.

However, if a woman uses a catheter, her fast will break because their is no barrier to prevent the catheter from penetrating into the stomach, and the catheter is normally liquidated to ease the insertion, so a foreign body enters the stomach and breaks the roza. (Masaaile Roza, Ml Raf’at Qasimi p115)

As for the drinking of water, there are still 2 months left for Ramadhan. Inshallah you’ll be ok by then. Make an intention to keep roza and try for the first few days then decide. May Allah make everything easy for you.
Wassalam