—that is, he is guilty of disobeying Allah. This kind of ignorance is the opposite of forbearance and of the sound reason that keeps a person from defying Allah. The ignorance intended here is therefore not a mere lack of information.

Some of the early generations said, “Everyone who disobeys Allah, exalted be He, is ignorant.” And Allah knows best.

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Cupping and Fasting

Question: What is cupping (ḥijāmah), and what is its ruling? Does having it done invalidate minor ablution and break the fast or not?

Answer: Cupping is a type of medical treatment in which blood is extracted with a cupping instrument. According to the sounder of the two scholarly opinions, it breaks the fast, because the Prophet ﷺ said, “The cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast.” Hence, cupping nullifies the fast on the stronger view of the scholars, on the basis of this ḥadīth and others.

It likewise invalidates minor ablution if a large amount of blood is drawn.

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Donating Blood While Fasting

Question: If a person donates blood while he is fasting, does that affect his fast? And what is your opinion regarding an injection that is not for nourishment for the fasting person—