Question :

A married man was asked by his doctor to undergo a semen analysis test during daytime in Ramadan for artificial insemination. What is the Islamic ruling on this?

The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may his peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions. Intentional discharge of semen during daytime in Ramadan-whether as part of treatment or not-invalidates fast. The Messenger of Allah said: " He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."{Bukhari}. According to most Muslim scholars, masturbating during daytime in Ramadan invalidates fast. However, Ibn Hazm is the only scholar who disagrees with this view. It was stated in the Hanafie book "Radulmohtar": "If he discharged semen by masturbating then he is obliged to make up for the fast of that day." Moreover, in "Hashyat Ibn Abdeen", a Malikie book, it was stated: "He shouldn`t discharge semen while wakeful because if he did so then his fast is invalidated and he is obliged to make up for it after Ramadan." Al-Imam An-Nawawi said: "If he masturbated then there is consensus among all Shafie scholars that his fast is invalidated."{Al-Majmou`}. Ibn Qhodamah said: "If he masturbated then he has committed a forbidden act, but his fast is considered valid unless he discharged semen. By analogy, this is similar to having an arousal by a kiss and discharging semen as a result. In conclusion, you(asker) should have postponed this test until after Ramadan or you could take it at night in order not to render your fast invalid. However, since what is done is done, it is incumbent upon you to make repentance, ask for forgiveness and make up for the missed fast after Ramadan. And Allah knows best.