Short answer
Yes, according to the mainstream Hanafi fatwa an asthma inhaler breaks the fast, because a medicine is taken in through the mouth into the throat and lungs. If you need it, use it and make up the day later. Some contemporary scholars, mostly in the Hanbali tradition, hold that an inhaler does not break the fast.
A metered-dose or powder inhaler, and a nebuliser, break the fast, with qada only and no kaffarah. Someone who cannot get through the day without it is treated as ill: they use it and make up the days, and if the need is permanent with no hope of making up, they pay fidya instead.
Other madhhabs
- Some contemporary scholars
- Several contemporary scholars, many of them in the Hanbali tradition, including some Saudi fatwa bodies, hold that an inhaler does not break the fast because it goes mainly to the lungs and the amount reaching the stomach is tiny. This is a modern view, not the classical position of any of the four schools.
Explanation
The Hanafi muftis of Deoband, Karachi and the UK treat the inhaler like deliberately breathing in smoke: a substance is taken in on purpose through the mouth, and it reaches the inside of the body. The classical Hanafi texts already say that deliberately drawing smoke into the throat breaks the fast, and an inhaler delivers far more than smoke does.
Asthma can be dangerous, so never risk an attack to keep a fast. Allah wants ease for you, and illness is one of the excuses named in the Quran. If you need your reliever inhaler during the day, use it. The fast of that day is broken, and you make it up later.
- Ask your doctor whether your preventer can be taken at suhoor and iftar only. Many twice-daily inhalers fit this pattern.
- If you used your inhaler, you do not owe kaffarah, only one day of qada.
- If you need it every day and will never be able to make the days up, you pay fidya. See what is fidya and the fidya calculator.
Scholars differ on this issue because inhalers are modern and the classical texts do not mention them. The Hanafi position above is the cautious one followed by most Hanafi institutions. Because health conditions vary, speak to a qualified mufti about your own case, together with your doctor.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
The sick person is given the concession to leave the fast and make it up, so no one should endanger their health.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:184
أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٨٤﴾
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.
Illness permits leaving the fast, with the days made up later.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Sawm, chapter on what breaks the fast and what does not. Deliberately drawing smoke into the throat breaks the fast, unlike smoke that enters without choice.
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Kitab al-Sawm. Medicine taken in through the mouth into the inside of the body breaks the fast.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.