Muslims can quench thirst in Ramadan: Iran cleric

These people (Muslims) eat cow manure by the boatload! With their infatuation with Allah, Muhammad, the Koran, and everything else superstitious and barbaric, they are a throw-back to the Stone Age. It would actually be a good thing if they refrained from eating, drinking and having sex, but not during Ramadan between sunrise and sunset, but every day from now until the end… TGO

Refer to story below. Source: Agence-France-Presse

Agence France-Presse | Updated: July 18, 2013 23:57 IST

He ruled out “fasting and drinking at the same time”, and reiterated that any break in the fast must be compensated for by fasting on some other day in the year.

Media reports also referred to decrees by supreme leader Ali Khamenei and Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani according to whom “a state of weakness or thirst does not merit a break in the fast”.

But Zanjani, who is based in the holy city of Qom, said Islam allows some breaks in fasting.

He said this would depend on “certain climatic and geographical conditions”, given that in countries such as Iran Ramadan fasting can last up to 16 hours in summer.

Those who “fall sick when fasting or if the fasting deteriorates an existing illness”, or “workers who work hard for a long day” can drink if it means their survival, Zanjani said on his website.

People in such cases also do not have to compensate by fasting on some other day, he added.

“Imam Sadegh (the sixth Shiite imam) himself said that people can drink if it is to save their lives,” Zanjani argued.

During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex between sunrise and sunset.