Does the insertion of suppositories break the fast?
The question, as received
I suffer from piles and currently use anusol. I was told I cannot use this medication whilst fasting. However, I am not sure what is true. Can you please tell me if I can use them?
The answer
In principle, a fasting person should not let substances with discernible bodies enter through the natural orifices like the mouth, nose, rectum etc. If a discernible substance enters one of these openings and reaches the throat, stomach or the intestines, then the fast will be invalidated.
Explanation
The rectum is an orifice by which medicine can reach the intestines. Therefore, the insertion of suppositories into the rectum will invalidate the fast.1
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1وَقَوْلُهُ احْتَقَنَ بِفَتْحِ التَّاءِ وَالْقَافِ وَهُوَ صَبُّ الدَّوَاءِ فِي الدُّبُرِ (الجوهرة ج 1 ص 141 مير محمد)
وَالْحُقْنَةُ تُفْطِرُ الصَّائِمَ لِوُصُولِ الْمُفْطِرِ إلَى بَاطِنِهِ (المبسوط للسرخسي ج 3 ص 67 دار المعرفة)
وَمَا وَصَلَ إلَى الْجَوْفِ أَوْ إلَى الدِّمَاغِ عَنْ الْمَخَارِقِ الْأَصْلِيَّةِ كَالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنِ وَالدُّبُرِ بِأَنْ اسْتَعَطَ أَوْ احْتَقَنَ أَوْ أَقْطَرَ فِي أُذُنِهِ فَوَصَلَ إلَى الْجَوْفِ أَوْ إلَى الدِّمَاغِ فَسَدَ صَوْمُهُ، أَمَّا إذَا وَصَلَ إلَى الْجَوْفِ فَلَا شَكَّ فِيهِ لِوُجُودِ الْأَكْلِ مِنْ حَيْثُ الصُّورَةِ. (بدائع ج 2 ص 606 دار الكتب)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.