Trichotillomania disease and fasting
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Asalamualaikum For the past 9 years I have suffered from Trichotillomania [hair pulling disorder] where I pulled my hair and ate the roots of them, even while fasting in Ramadan. It was an illness and I couldn't control it. Also, I used to also bite my nails and the skin inside my mouth and swallow it but I never knew that this broke the fast. After many years I have finally found out that it breaks fast. So are all my past fasts invalid due to all these reasons? If I was ignorant of how eating skin and nails breaks fast, then are my fasts valid because I was unaware? Jazakallah
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Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam,
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