Does Ozempic Break Your Fast? Managing Injections During Ramadan

Can a needle prick ruin your spiritual focus? It is a question I get asked every single year as the moon approaches for Ramadan. With the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, many in our community are worried that their weekly injection might nullify their fast.

I want to set your mind at ease. You shouldn't have to choose between managing your chronic condition and fulfilling your obligations to Allah.

Subcutaneous Injections and the Fast

In Islamic jurisprudence, the general consensus among major bodies like the International Islamic Fiqh Academy is that injections that are not nutritional do not break the fast.

Because Ozempic is a subcutaneous injection (delivered into the fat, not the vein) and it provides no calories or "food value," it is permissible to take during daylight hours. It isn't "drinking" or "eating." It is medicine.

Timing is Everything

Even though it is permissible, the side effects can be tricky. GLP-1s slow down your digestion. If you take your shot right before a large Iftar meal, you might feel incredibly nauseous or bloated.

I usually suggest my friends take their weekly dose late in the evening, well after Iftar, so their body has time to adjust while they sleep. This helps you stay present during Tarawih prayers without feeling like your stomach is in knots.

Protecting Your Health is Mandatory

Some people think being "tough" and skipping meds for a month shows more devotion. It doesn't. Your body is a trust (Amanah). If skipping your medication causes your blood sugar to spike to dangerous levels, you are actually neglecting that trust.

If the high cost of these medications is making you consider skipping doses, let us help. We help patients get these exact medications for $40 a month. Don't let a pharmacy bill be the reason you struggle during the holiest month of the year.

Get your Ozempic or Wegovy for $40/mo. See if you qualify.