Acts which do not Break the Fast
Forgetfully eating or drinking, etc.
If a fasting person forgetfully eats, drinks or has sexual intercourse with his wife/husband, the fast will not break. If he eats and drinks a full-stomach, even then the fast will not break. If he forgetfully eats or drinks several times in the day, the fast will still not break.
A person saw a fasting person eating or drinking something. If this fasting person is quite strong and is not greatly affected by fasting, it will be wajib to remind him that he is fasting. But if he is a weak person and is greatly affected by fasting, he should not be reminded that he is fasting. Instead, he should be allowed to continue eating.
By swallowing one's saliva, the fast does not break irrespective of the amount swallowed.
After eating some betel-leaves, the person washed and gargled his mouth thoroughly. Despite this, the redness of the saliva did not disappear. There is no harm in this. The fast will still be valid.
A person ate something forgetfully and thought that since he has eaten, his fast is now broken. He therefore ate something intentionally. His fast will now break, qada will be wajib on him, but not kaffarah.
Tasting food, and cleaning mouth, etc.
If a person tastes something with his mouth and thereafter spits it out, the fast will not break. However, it is makruh to do so unnecessarily. But if one's husband is very hot-tempered and there is the fear that if the salt or water content in the gravy is not in order, he will become extremely angry, it will be permissible to taste and will no longer be makruh.
It is makruh to soften any food with one's mouth and feed it to a child. However, if this becomes necessary and there is no alternative, it will not be makruh.
It is makruh to cleanse the teeth with coal or tooth-powder. If any of these things go down the throat, the fast will break. It is permissible to clean the teeth with a miswaak. This is irrespective of whether it is a dry miswaak or a fresh one. If the miswaak is obtained from the neem (margosa) tree and one perceives it's bitterness in the mouth, even then it will not be makruh to use such a miswaak.
During the day, it is permissible to apply surmah (antimony), oil, and to inhale any fragrance. The fast is not affected by such acts irrespective of when this is done. In fact, after applying surmah, if the colour of the surmah appears in one's saliva or mucus in the nose, even then the fast will not break nor will it become makruh. It is permissible to inhale the fragrance of perfumes which do not have any smoke.
Unintentionally Eating, inhaling, etc.
A fly went down the throat, or some smoke or dust went down the throat on it's own. In such a case, the fast will not break. However, if one did this intentionally, the fast will break.
Intimacy, and related acts, etc.
It is permissible for a man to sleep next to his wife, to touch her and to kiss her. However, if, due to the passions of youth, there is the fear that these acts would lead to sexual intercourse, they should be abstained from. It will then be makruh to carry out such acts (touching or sleeping next to her).
Ghusl became compulsory at night. However, the person did not have a bath and only took a bath during the day. The fast will be valid. In fact, even if he does not bath the entire day, the fast will still be valid. However, he will still be sinning for not bathing.
A person slept away during the day. He saw a dream which made ghusl compulsory on him. (i.e. he had a wet-dream) In such a case, the fast does not break.
Vomiting involuntarily or voluntarily and related acts
A person vomited involuntarily and thought that his fast is now broken. He therefore consumed some food. His fast will break, qada will be wajib, and not kaffarah.
A small amount of vomit came out but it returned down the throat on its own. The fast will not break.
A person vomited unintentionally. The fast will not break irrespective of the amount.
A person sniffed in such a way that the mucus of his nose went down his throat. His fast will not break. Similarly, the fast does not break by sniffing and swallowing the saliva that is in the mouth.
