Does Taking an Injection while Fasting in Ramadan Invalidates the Saum / Fast?

It is not Ramadan for it has been over just a couple of months from hence. However, at another forum, the question of taking an injection during fasting caught my attention, and I thought to find out more about the issue to clear an misconceptions related to the subject.

Most traditional religious scholars out rightly reject the concept and forbid taking of injections during the fasting hours of the Ramadan. And label it "Makrooh" or in other words "Not Desired." Therefore I thought of searching for the right answer based on technicalities involved in taking injections.

I consulted a number of sites for a definite answer and was enlightened to find the technical answer which may clear many a misconceptions on the subject. Injections are of two type: (1) injections that are taken for medical reasons (that is taking medicine), and (2) injections for nourishment in case one feels weakness and is required to boost one's energy level, specially those recovering from illness or in old age. 

So the general ruling on the subject is that:

• It is permissible for a fasting person to take medicine by injection, whether intramuscular or intravenous, during the day in Ramadan for medical reasons like taking a routine injection of insulin by the diabetics or an injection of insulin or an injection taken to relieve severe tooth or head ache. 
• But it is NOT permissible for the fasting person to be given an injection for nourishment purposes during the day in Ramadan, because that comes under the ruling on eating and drinking. 
• Since nourishment injections can be delayed for these do not directly lead to medical reasons and be taken after breaking the fast. 

In view of the above, it is permissible to administer medicine by needle into a muscle or vein or buttock to a fasting person during the day, for it will break the fast, for it is not food or drink, and it is not like eating or drinking. 

Please listen to an answer on the subject by Dr Zakir A Naik, who beside being a prominent religious scholar of the present times, is also a doctor of medicine by profession:

May Allah allow us the wisdom to interpret issues with wisdom and knowledge and may forgive us in case of wrong advice or misinterpretation. Aameen.

Author's Note: The data above has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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Posted in: Fasting,Injection,Q&A,Ramadan,Validity of fasting