Is Kissing Or Hugging Permitted During Fasting? – Dr Zakir Naik

The question of whether or not you can kiss or hug during fasting is a common one that often pops up on platforms like YouTube. However, the question itself is too general. It would make more sense to ask if you can kiss your spouse during fasting. This specific question can be answered with a resounding "yes."

During fasting, you are normally prohibited from engaging in any indulgent acts, such as kissing. However, when it comes to your spouse, you are permitted to kiss them as long as you are confident that it will not lead to any further actions that could break your fast.

If you possess self-control and know that you can restrict yourself from engaging in any activities that would invalidate your fast, then you are perfectly allowed to kiss your spouse. The same goes for a woman who wishes to kiss her husband. As long as both parties are sure that the kiss will not lead to anything that would break their fast, it is permissible.

In fact, there is a story that illustrates this point further. Once, a Saba sat with the Prophet and asked if he could kiss his wife while fasting. The Prophet replied, "Yes, you can." Another person then asked the same question, but this time the Prophet said, "No, you cannot."

Confused, the Saba questioned the Prophet about why the answers were different. The Prophet explained, "I knew that the first person who came could control his desires, so I told him it was permissible for him to kiss his wife during fasting. However, I knew that the second person could not control his desires, so I said he cannot kiss during fasting."

From this story, we learn that the general ruling is that if you have confidence in your ability to control your desires and know that you will not engage in any activities that would break your fast after kissing, then it is perfectly acceptable to do so. However, if you fear that you will not be able to control yourself and may commit any actions that break your fast afterwards, then it is best to refrain from kissing your spouse during fasting.

Ultimately, trust and self-awareness are key when it comes to deciding whether or not to engage in physical affection during fasting. If you are confident in your ability to maintain self-control, then a kiss or a hug with your spouse can be a beautiful expression of love and connection, even within the boundaries of fasting.