8th April 2025
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: Can you inform me if HRT patches and gels are ok to apply on the skin when fasting or would it break my fast? first explain what the HRT patches are and why they are applied then explain the hukm.
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
“Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment used to help menopause symptoms. It replaces the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fall to low levels as you approach the menopause… Oestrogen and progesterone are an essential part of period cycles, ovulation and pregnancy. They also keep your bones healthy. As you get older, the loss of these hormones can have a big effect on your body.” (NHS)[i]
HRT patches or gels are applied to the skin and release oestrogen and/or progesterone in a small amount continuously. For anything to break the fast, it must reach the stomach, throat or the intestines through a qualified passage such as the mouth, nose and back passage. The arm is not classed as a qualified passage because it does not give direct access to a person’s stomach and brain. Hence, if a person applies HRT patches or gels on their arm while fasting, their fast will not break.[ii]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Zakiya Saeeda Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[i] Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), available at: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – NHS (accessed 8th April 2025)
[ii] Fatāwā Hindiyyah, Kitāb as-Sawm, Vol 1, Page 204
وَفِي دَوَاءِ الْجَائِفَةِ وَالْآمَّةِ أَكْثَرُ الْمَشَايِخِ عَلَى أَنَّ الْعِبْرَةَ لِلْوُصُولِ إلَى الْجَوْفِ وَالدِّمَاغِ لَا لِكَوْنِهِ رَطْبًا أَوْ يَابِسًا حَتَّى إذَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْيَابِسَ وَصَلَ يُفْسِدُ صَوْمَهُ، وَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الرَّطْبَ لَمْ يَصِلْ لَمْ يُفْسِدْ هَكَذَا فِي الْعِنَايَةِ، وَإِذَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَحَدَهُمَا، وَكَانَ الدَّوَاءُ رَطْبًا فَعِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – يُفْطِرُ لِلْوُصُولِ عَادَةٍ وَقَالَا لَا لِعَدَمِ الْعِلْمِ بِهِ فَلَا يُفْطِرُ بِالشَّكِّ، وَإِنْ كَانَ يَابِسًا فَلَا فِطْرَ اتِّفَاقًا هَكَذَا فِي فَتْحِ الْقَدِيرِ.
Badā’i us Sanā’i, Kitāb as-Sawm, Vol 2, Page 105
وَالدَّاخِلُ مِنْ الْمَسَامِّ لَا يُنَافِي كَمَا لَوْ اغْتَسَلَ بِالْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ…
(قَوْلُهُ وَلَوْ اكْتَحَلَ لَمْ يُفْطِرْ) سَوَاءٌ وَجَدَ طَعْمَهُ فِي حَلْقِهِ أَوْ لَا لِأَنَّ الْمَوْجُودَ فِي حَلْقِهِ أَثَرُهُ دَاخِلًا مِنْ الْمَسَامِّ وَالْمُفْطِرُ الدَّاخِلُ مِنْ الْمَنَافِذِ كَالْمُدْخَلِ وَالْمُخْرَجِ لَا مِنْ الْمَسَامِّ الَّذِي هُوَ خَلَلُ الْبَدَنِ لِلِاتِّفَاقِ فِيمَنْ شَرَعَ فِي الْمَاءِ يَجِدُ بَرْدَهُ فِي بَطْنِهِ وَلَا يُفْطِرُ. وَإِنَّمَا كَرِهَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ ذَلِكَ أَعْنِي الدُّخُولَ فِي الْمَاءِ وَالتَّلَفُّفَ بِالثَّوْبِ الْمَبْلُولِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ إظْهَارِ الضَّجَرِ فِي إقَامَةِ الْعِبَادَةِ لَا لِأَنَّهُ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ الْإِفْطَارِ