Does Kissing Break Your Fast During Ramadan?

The short answer is no – kissing your spouse does not break your fast as long as it does not escalate to sexual arousal or intercourse. But what about other intimate acts like oral sex? What scientifically happens to your body when fasting? As an observant Muslim gamer myself, I unpacked the details.

Why Are Earthly Desires Restricted While Fasting Anyway?

Islam prescribes fasting during Ramadan as a spiritual practice to build patience, awareness of God, empathy for the poor, and self-control. By abstaining from food, drink and intimacy from dawn to dusk, Muslims redirect the nafs (lower self/ego) away from worldly addictions and towards divine contemplation. Just like respawning after an epic fail in Dark Souls, it‘s a reset.

But games like us gamers know that discipline requires clear constraints. The Quran outlines specific activities that invalidate the fast:

Eating, drinking, and sexual intimacy that could lead to ejaculation. 

So no nerfing those lines. Intimacy beyond kissing risks arousal that makes self-control impossible for some. Better to avoid temptation altogether when fasting. Let‘s see what exactly God considers acceptable and not between fajr and maghrib…

Permitted vs Prohibited Intimacy While Fasting

Some maps consider unintended swallowing of even small amounts of saliva as breaking the fast. But dominant scholarship accepts exceptions for out-of-control entry of dust, snot, tears etc during daylong fasting. Strict respawn rules would be insane.

Let‘s analyze scholars‘ evidence on specific intimacy acts more closely…

Does Kissing Break Fasting?

• Kissing itself doesn‘t break the fast – Numerous hadith narrate Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم kissing his wives while fasting. As long as kissing doesn‘t risk losing self-control leading to sex, it‘s permitted both by Quran and Sunnah. However, restraint from kissing is recommended too.
• French kissing could be prohibited if intense enough to create fear of breaking boundaries. Imagine activating your ultimate while low on health trying to solo the final boss. Not smart during fasting phase.
• Same logic for touching without desire to stimulate – permissible unless prompting escalation risk. Hugging, cuddling, lying together in bed etc. don‘t break fast by itself.

But what if arousal does happen unintentionally? Let‘s see what medical experts say…

Does Arousal Scientifically Break the Fast?

Unwanted physical arousal is naturally difficult to control outside conscious factors.

• Men experience multiple involuntary nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) during sleep in the form of wet dreams. These do NOT break Ramadan fast even if ejaculation results since intention wasn‘t to stimulate.

But while awake, further stimulation risks reaching point of no return.

• Orgasm leads to release of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins – hormones that provide energy and mood boost similar to eating food! So climax as defined can perceived as chemically breaking fast by "feeding" the brain.

Yet, holistic Islamic fasting targets higher goals beyond just physical denial…

Oral Sex – Does It Break Fasting Even Without Swallowing?

• Majority opinion prohibits oral sex to orgasm based on hadith warning those who "kissed and broke their fast." This narration classifies oral stimulation in same category as intercourse.
• Minority view however permits oral sex itself based on chemical arousal rationale above. As long as actual ejaculatory fluids aren‘t swallowed during daytime fasting hours.
• My gamer take – the intention behind fasting is preventing addictive indulgence in earthly pleasures. Oral sex has that risk even without swallowing. I avoid power-ups that could make me lose a 1UP faster when on challenging levels.

Let‘s see a specific debate between scholars of great wisdom…

Battle of the Beards – Ibn Uthaymeen vs Al-Albani on Masturbation While Fasting

• Conservative heavyweight Ibn Uthaymeen prohibited masturbation to orgasm categorically based on hadith warning against "kissing and breaking fast." Stimulation risks leading to climax which chemically breaks fast.
• However more liberal lion Al-Albani permitted masturbation while fasting if ejaculation is avoided. His evidence claims that Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم only forbade kissing spouse during fasting out of desire to avoid sex. By analogy, solo masturbation without orgasm has no risk of actual sexual breaking of fast.
• My vote – I‘m team Ibn Uthaymeen here. Al-Albani‘s logic allows loophole for dangerous leveling up risk. Temporary dopamine reward not worth losing main quest XP and rare loot later!

Effects of Fasting on Health & Weight Loss

As gamers, optimization of mind and body boosts our gameplay. What does science say about bio-hacking techniques like fasting?

• After 8-12 hours without food, body switches fuel source from carbs to fat. Increased adiponectin hormone aids fat burning for energy. Hello keto!
• HGH levels spike significantly while fasting, particularly in men. Muscle growth and tissue repair accelerates. Basically legal steroids!
• But fasting for longer than 36 hours slows metabolism by up to 8% as thyroid hormone drops. So don‘t overgrind!

• Those who binge eat after sundown often pile back extra calories leading to weight gain. Lack of meal timing also increases water retention and bloating.
• But people who are careful not to overeat while maintaining nutrition reap fat burning and muscle boost benefits from fasting!

Wrap Up – Kiss & Tell Guide for Ramadan Intimacy

Here‘s a quick highlight of permitted and prohibited intimacy acts based on Islamic jurisprudence and medical science while fasting during Ramadan daylight hours:

• Kissing spouse – Allowed unless leading to strong arousal
• French kissing – Better avoided as deemed intense arousal
• Masturbation – Prohibited based on possible climax reaction
• Oral sex – Prohibited as analogous to intercourse
• Sexual intercourse – Prohibited categorically by Quran verse
• Hugging/cuddling – Allowed with restraint
• Accidental ejaculation while sleeping – Allowed (no control)
• Swallowing bodily fluids – Prohibited

The purpose of Ramadan fast is achieving taqwa (God consciousness) through mindful discipline. As gamers, we get that grind. No pain no gain, no game no fame! Just don‘t go from zero to epic fail because of unchecked desire. Stay on track and RAMadan Kareem!