Does a Bidet Break the Fast?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Using a Bidet for Istinjā While Fasting
Darulifta Ahlesunnat (Dawateislami)
Question
What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: Where I live in Canada, a bidet is commonly used. A bidet is actually a new technology that is built into the toilet seat which is used to wash the private areas after relieving oneself. My question is that water exits the bidet with pressure due to which some water also enters the anal opening but immediately comes out by squeezing. In such a case, is the fast broken? The water does not reach the stomach, instead it reaches the inner part of the anus and immediately comes out.
Answer
Entrance of water in the anal opening does not nullify the fast until and unless the water reaches the point of the enema. This is only possible when the water or medicine is deliberately or intentionally inserted to such depth. Although a bidet and hand-shower have pressure, this pressure is only for outer purification and water does not generally reach the point of enema. Therefore, the normal usage of a bidet or hand-shower while fasting does not affect the fast; the fast is valid and intact. There is no need to fall into unnecessary doubts and confusion.
It is stated in al-Durr al-Mukhtār:
و لو بالغ في الاستنجاء حتى بلغ موضع الحقنة فسد، و هذا قلما يكون و لو كان فيورث داء عظيما
Under this, it is stated in Radd al-Muḥtār al-Durr al-Mukhtār:
قال في الفتح: و الحد الذي يتعلق بالوصول إليه الفساد قدر المحقنة اهـ. أي قدر ما يصل إليه رأس المحقنة التي هي آلة الاحتقان
(Radd al-Muḥtār Maʿa al-Durr al-Mukhtār, Vol. 03, p. 424, Publ. Dar al-Maʿrifah, Beirut)
Aʿlā Ḥazrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه states in Fatāwā Razawiyah:
روزہ دار کو یہ بہتر تو ہے کہ استنجا کرنے میں اوپر سانس بقوت نہ لے مگر اس قدر سے روزہ نہ جائے گا، نہ مطلقاً پانی چڑھنے سے (روزہ جائے گا) جب تک پانی موضع حقنہ تک نہ پہنچے، اور ایسا ہوگا تو درد شدید پیدا ہوگا۔
Translation: Although it is preferred that a fasting person does not take a deep breath during istinja, but only this will not invalidate the fast, nor (will the fast be nullified) by water entering the anus until the water reaches the point of enema. And if this happens, it will cause sever pain. (Fatāwā Razawiyah, Vol. 23, p. 685, Publ. Razā Foundation, Lahore)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَ سَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: FAM-963
Date: 5th Jumād al - ʾUlāʾ 1447 AH / 27th October 2025