We are now in the month of Ramadan, and our Muslim brothers and sisters are fasting.

However, as the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been prolonged, there were concerns about COVID-19 tests, and if doing one would cause them to batal puasa.

Fret not! It is totally fine to do a swab test during the puasa month.

In line with the Hanafi Islamic views

Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin told The Star Online that the COVID-19 nasal and throat swab tests do not invalidate the act of fasting among Muslims.

After analysing all the arguments and proposals that have been made, the state fatwa committee has agreed that a swab test will not cause a Muslim to batal puasa.

"The swab tests are not considered as eating and drinking that can cause a person's fast to be invalidated, with the consensus of the Muslim scholars," he said in a statement.

He said the opinion that the swab test does not invalidate fasting is in line with the views of the Hanafi Islamic jurisprudence, which says that for it to be considered invalidated, the object must be inserted inside a bodily passage and remains inside and not be connected with something else outside of the human body.

"If so, the swab test only involves a process to insert the swab into the nose and mouth in order to take the needed samples and later taken out, and does not invalidate fasting," Dr Asri was quoted as saying.

So guys, do not worry and have a peaceful fasting period!