Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
If female vaginal discharge accompanied by orgasm, the majority of jurists are of the opinion that it invalidates fasting. If this discharge is a result of some excitement that did not reach orgasm, it does not invalidate fasting.
In his response to your question, Dr. Jamal Badawi, Professor of Religious Studies and Management at St. Mary’s University and the vice chairman of the Islamic American University, states:
While fasting, a Muslim is required to abstain from food, drink, and sexual desires and to avoid foul speech and haram acts.
To reap the great benefits of fasting, a Muslim is required to stay away from anything that may invalidate or even impair the reward of fasting.
Engaged couples, for example, should not involve in sensual talking that may lead to sexual excitement. Engagement is no more than a promise of marriage. Therefore, engaged couples are required to observe the ethics of dealing with people of the opposite sex when dealing or talking with each other.
The objective of fasting and the ground for the immense reward of Allah is that we control our desires for food, drink, and sexual pleasure during the fasting hours.
If this discharge is a result of some excitement that did not reach orgasm, it does not invalidate fasting. The same applies to men as well. If, however, the male discharge is ejaculation with the epic of sexual pleasure, it does break the fast.
As for female vaginal discharge accompanied by orgasm, the majority of jurists are of the opinion that it invalidates fasting.
It is highly recommended to avoid situations that may lead to this sensation during the engagement period especially during the fasting hours in Ramadan.
The permissibility of talking with or contacting a fiancée is limited by ma`ruf (Arabic for: legitimate discussion with the view of learning more about one another and plans for the future including wedding).
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.