quick to ejaculate and have a strong sexual desire: when they look at their wives, they ejaculate. If we were to say that this invalidates their fast, it would entail hardship.

Thus, looking requires further detail. If he repeatedly looks until he ejaculates, his fast is invalidated; but if he ejaculates after a single look, it is not invalidated—unless he continues looking until he ejaculates, in which case his fast is invalidated. This is because continuing to look is like repeated looking; indeed, it may be even more effective in arousing desire and bringing about ejaculation.

As for thinking: if he thinks until he ejaculates, his fast is not invalidated, because of the generality of the Prophet’s saying, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: “Allah has pardoned my Ummah for what their souls whisper to them, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it” (1)—unless this is accompanied by an action that causes ejaculation, such as stimulating his penis or the like.

In summary:

First: If intimate contact results in ejaculation, his fast is invalidated; likewise, if it results in the emission of madhy, according to the established position of the school.

Second: Looking. If it is a single look and he ejaculates or emits madhy, there is no consequence for him. If he repeatedly looks and emits madhy, there is likewise no consequence; but if he repeatedly looks and ejaculates, his fast is invalidated.

Here the author, may Allah have mercy on him, differentiated between the emission of madhy and ejaculation. Thus, if