Guidelines concerning things that break the fast

That does
not spoil his fast, and his fast is valid, because when this happens it is
not by their choice, and they did not mean for it to reach their stomachs. I
would like to take this opportunity to explain that things which break a
person’s fast – namely intercourse, eating, drinking, etc. – only do so if
three conditions are met: 

1 – that he
knows (the ruling). If he does not know the ruling then it does not break
his fast, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): 

“And
there is no sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, except
in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend”

[al-Ahzaab 33:5] 

“Our
Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error”

[al-Baqarah 2:286] 

And the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “My ummah is
forgiven for mistakes and forgetfulness and for what they are forced to do.”
The one who is ignorant is making a mistake, and if he knew he would not
have done that, so if he does something that breaks the fast out of
ignorance, then he is not to blame and his fast is complete and is valid,
whether he was ignorant concerning the ruling or the time. 

A similar
case is when a person does something that breaks the fast, thinking that it
does not break the fast, such as one who has cupping done, thinking that
cupping does not break the fast. We would say to him, your fast is valid and
you do not have to do anything. And there are other things which happen to a
person not by his choice; so there is no blame on him and that does not
break his fast, for the reasons we have mentioned. 

In
conclusion, the things that break the fast do not break it unless three
conditions are met: 

1 – he
should know the ruling

2 – he
should not have forgotten that he is fasting

3 – he
should be doing that by choice. 

And Allaah knows best.