Does repeated gazing followed by ejaculation invalidate the fast?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Fasting

Book 9 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The fast is invalidated if repeated gazing leads to the ejaculation of semen. This opinion is held by the Imam (Ahmad's school), 'Ata, Al-Hasan al-Basri, Malik, and Al-Hasan ibn Salih. The evidence supporting invalidation is that ejaculation results from an act which involves pleasure and which one can guard against, making it equivalent to ejaculation caused by physical touch. Furthermore, unlike mere contemplation (Fikr), guarding against the effect of repeated gazing is possible.

Supporting text

The view that the fast is not invalidated is held by Jabir ibn Zayd, Al-Thawri, Abu Hanifa, Al-Shafi'i, and Ibn al-Mundhir. They argue that it is ejaculation resulting from contemplation, absent direct physical contact, thus resembling ejaculation through mere thought.