Can You Taste Food While Fasting? The Simple Rule That Everyone Gets Wrong

Monday, August 18, 2025

SAEDNEWS: Licked a spoon while fasting? If nothing went down your throat, your fast is fine — but if you knew beforehand it would inevitably reach the throat, you must make it up and pay expiation.

Can You Taste Food While Fasting? The Simple Rule That Everyone Gets Wrong

According to SAEDNEWS, tasting food with the tongue while fasting — if nothing of it is swallowed — does not invalidate the fast, even if, by accident, it reaches the throat. However, if one knows from the outset that it will inevitably reach the throat involuntarily, the fast is invalid and one must make it up (qada) and pay expiation (kafāra).

Does tasting food invalidate the fast?

Tasting food and similar acts, which ordinarily do not reach the throat, do not break the fast even if they accidentally do reach the throat. But if a person knows from the beginning that it will reach the throat involuntarily, then the fast is invalid and they must perform the qada and expiation (kafāra).

Here are some important points on this matter:

  • If nothing is swallowed: Tasting food with the tongue — provided nothing of it is swallowed — does not invalidate the fast.

  • If it reaches the throat unintentionally: If, without intention, some of what was tasted reaches the throat, there is no problem (the fast is not invalidated).

  • If one knows from the start it will reach the throat: If one knows from the outset that, without voluntary action, what they taste will reach the throat, then the fast is invalid and they must make it up (qada) and expiate (kafāra).

For more precise rulings according to your own marja‘ (religious reference), you can consult the treatises (risāla) of the marāji‘ (religious authorities)



Latest news  
Alzheimer’s and Artists Zarif Confronts the Europeans: “Because of Trump’s Actions, I Can Hardly Convince the Iranian People That Diplomacy Is Worth Trying” How many school shootings have there been in the US in 2025?( Minneapolis Annunciation Church attack among the deadliest) Iran’s Response to the Anti-Iranian Action by Three European Countries: “The Security Council Should Reject Unjust Political Maneuvering” Is Donald Trump dead? U.S. Federal Court strikes Trump reciprocal tariffs illegal while social media erupts with death rumours of the U.S. President Reza Pahlavi, nicknamed Hasrat-ol-Saltaneh: If I become king, I will be a flying king, six months in Washington and six months in the Tehran palace! Speculation about Trump’s death; no news from the U.S. President for three days! Response of the Quds Force official regarding the safe exit of Ali Shamkhani from under the rubble and accusations against him Did Martyr Raisi Prevent the Installation of a 33-Meter Ferdowsi Statue at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad? Watch: Moment Australian politician, Bob Katter, raises fist at journalist!(VIDEO) Mother abducted her own child!(Spanish police hunt for boy continues) The Relationship Between Traditional Iranian Art and the Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders UN Security Council Confirms Europe’s Request to Reinstate Iran Sanctions Statement of the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Response to the European Troika’s Action on Activating the “Snapback” Mechanism Iran Nuclear Talks Resume as Russia and China Push for 6-Month Extension