Vaseline On Lips While Fasting, and Hitting Kids

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: 1. Does Vaseline on lips break a fast?  I had blisters that hurt Vaseline helped . What if it was swallowed too accidentally ?

2. I got angry at my kids because they were fighting  and making a mess at home, so i hit them hard.  I repented.  That happened three to four days in Ramadan.  Can I give zakat to make up for it, or should I repeat the fasts from those days?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

(1) Applying Vaseline or the like to the lips would not invalidate the fast, but swallowing it would, even if accidental. One of course would have to be reasonably sure it was swallowed.

One would also have to be careful with licking the lips before it dries.

Please see this related answer:

Using Chapstick While Fasting

(2) You should not hit your kids out of anger and impatience, even if they misbehave. At certain ages discipline has its place, but must be done with wisdom and not out of emotion.

Never slap them on the face, and never punch them. That would only harm and humiliate the child, and physical abuse is unlawful.

You should make sincere tawba (repentance), and resolve never to do that again.

Such behavior would not affect the validity of your fast though.

I would strongly encourage you to take this course on Islamic parenting:

Islamic Parenting: Raising Upright Children

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani