The Case of a Fasting Person’s Sniffling or Use of Eardrops or Enema

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can a man who complains of an ear-ache apply medicine to it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can a fasting man apply oil to his ears?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who performs an enema because of an illness in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Performing an enema is not permissible when fasting.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a fasting man who applies cupping and oil in his ears. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful except sniffing snuff, which is undesirable.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man and woman who apply medicine inside. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan and asked about one’s performing an enema when fasting. He (the Imam) wrote back, ‘It is not harmful with a solid substance (as opposed to liquid).”’