Tasting Food whilst fasting??

[Sister Nomee]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

I would like some clarifiaction regarding tasting food whilst fasting. some scholars say it is allowed others say it is not.
I have also read but sadly cannot find reference that a woman can taste food in the state of fast if her husband complains about her cooking inorder to avoid arguements etc.

Can you kindly shed some light into this matter.

jazakallah khair

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam


Jazak'allah for your query. The question actually comes under the title 'The Dislikes (makruhat) of Fasting'. The ruling given in Hanafi books of fiqh is as follows:


It is disliked (makruh) for a person who is fasting, that he/she tastes food (without swallowing it) or that he/she chews some food. For example 'ilaychi' before it is thrown into the tea. The only excuse (udhar) for doing it, is that, for example, if the husband, or the master is ill tempered, and if the lessening or the greatness of the salt, or chilli in the food shall strike his temper, which shall then lead to arguement, sadness, or anger, then there is no harm in tasting.


However tasting does not mean that one puts something in the mouth and swallows it, as this shall 'null and void' the fast. Tasting merely means to put something on the tip of the tongue in order to identify the content of the cooking, which is washed out, or spat out afterwards. There is no harm in this.


I hope that some light has been shed upon your query through this issue, and that it has now become more easier for you. May Allah the Almighty give us all the tawfiq, to follow that which is correct, and abstain from that which is wrong. (Amin)



Wallahu A'almu Biththawaab



M. Waseem Ashrafi