Does consuming anything generally defined as food abrogate an oath not to eat food?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Expiations
Primary text
If a person swears an oath not to eat food, consuming anything called food—including staple foods (*qut*), side dishes (*adam*), sweets (*halwa*), dates, congealed items (*jamid*), or liquids (*ma'i')—results in breaking the oath (hanith). This is supported by the Almighty's decree: "All food was lawful for the Children of Israel except what Israel had made unlawful for himself" (Quran 3:93). Furthermore, "And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy" (Quran 76:8), meaning due to their need for the food. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, termed milk as food, stating, "Indeed, the udders of their cattle are stored up for them as their food." Concerning water, one position holds that it is food, based on the verse: "Indeed, Allah will test you with a river; so whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is surely of me" (Quran 2:249), because food is that which is tasted. Additionally, since the Prophet (PBUH) named milk, which is a drink, as food, water should be considered food similarly.
Supporting text
The opposing view states that water is not food because it is not typically termed as such, nor is it inherently understood in the general term 'food,' often being coupled with 'drink.' The Prophet (PBUH) stated, "I do not know what suffices regarding food and drink except milk," and writings distinguish between 'Chapters on Foods and Drinks.' Moreover, even if water is intrinsically a food, it is not considered food by common usage (*'urf*), and breaking an oath is contingent upon common usage, as the swearer generally intends only what is commonly understood.