Can I use a nicotine patch while fasting?

Why the patch is allowed

The things that break a fast are eating, drinking and what is treated like them: something that reaches the stomach or throat through the mouth, nose or similar opening. A patch passes medicine slowly through the skin into the blood, like a cream or ointment. The International Islamic Fiqh Academy, in its 1997 decision on medical treatments during fasting, listed medicines absorbed through the skin, such as ointments and medicated patches, among the things that don't break the fast. This is the view of most scholars today.

A few scholars are more cautious about nicotine patches in particular, because nicotine isn't strictly medicine and the patch exists to satisfy a craving. Their advice is to put it on before dawn if you need it, and not to treat it as a way to keep a smoking habit going.

What does break the fast

• Cigarettes and shisha. Smoke is inhaled into the throat and lungs; scholars agree this breaks the fast.
• Vapes and e-cigarettes. The vapour is deliberately inhaled, so most scholars say they break it too.
• Nicotine gum, lozenges and pouches. These release substances into the mouth that you swallow. See Can I chew gum while fasting?
• Nicotine nasal sprays reach the throat and are generally treated like food or drink.

Things on the skin are a different category. For a similar case, see Can I wear deodorant while fasting?

Ramadan as a chance to quit

Many Muslims use Ramadan to stop smoking. You already go 12 to 18 hours without a cigarette, which is the hardest part of quitting. Most scholars today regard smoking as haram or at least strongly disliked because of the harm it causes.

A patch can be a helpful bridge. Use it as part of a plan to quit, ideally with your doctor or a stop-smoking service. If you're new to Islam and still smoke, you're not alone. See Do I have to quit smoking before I become Muslim?