The ruling concerning using inhaler during fasting

Question:

An asthmatic woman wants to know if it is permissible to use an inhaler which widens the air ways (channels) by inhaling the medicine contained in it, whether during Ramadan or in other days, in a state of fasting.

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

If the components of this inhaler are only air (or oxygen) which help to open and widen the windpipes, we consider that there is no problem to use it whether in Ramadan or in other days, and we do not consider it among things that invalidate fasting. Whereas, if it (the inhaler) contains vaporous elements which change into liquids, and we feel the taste of the liquids when they go down by the throat to the stomach during usage and interaction, they are considered as invalidators of fasting. Thus, if the inhaler is used in such a way, during the day of Ramadan once or twice in a month, it is considered like the case of a sick person who compensates for the missed days. But if it is often used during this month, or if it exceeds the usual use, it has the ruling of a person who suffers from a chronic illness and must pay Al-Fidya (feed a poor person for each day not fasted).

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.