Part 3
If a person unintentionally swallows
something that is stuck between his
teeth, or if it is so small that he
could not tell it was there or spit it
out, this is counted as being part of
his saliva and it does not break his
fast. But if it is big enough to spit
out, he should spit it out. If he
spits it out, this is OK, but if he
swallows it, this breaks his fast. If it
can be diluted in the mouth, in
whole or in part, and it has an
added taste or sweetness, it is
haraam for him to chew it. If any of
this substance reaches the throat,
this breaks the fast. If a person
spits out water after rinsing his
mouth, his fast is not affected by
any moisture or wetness that is left
behind, because he cannot help it.
If a person suffers from a nosebleed,
his fast is still valid, because this is
something that is beyond his
control. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaâ
€™imah, 10/264).
If he has gum ulcers or his gums
bleed after using the siwaak (tooth
stick), it is not permissible for him
to swallow the blood; he has to spit
it out. However, if some blood enters
his throat by accident, and he did
not mean for that to happen, there
is no need to worry. Similarly, if
vomit rises in his throat then goes
back down to his stomach without
him intending for this to happen, his
fast is still valid. (Fataawa al-Lajnah
al-Daa’imah, 10/254).
With regard to mucus coming from
the head (nose and sinuses) and
phlegm coming from the chest by
coughing and clearing the throat, if
it is swallowed before it reaches the
mouth, this does not break a
person’s fast, because it is a
problem which all people have; but
if it is swallowed after it reaches the
mouth, this does break the fast.
However, if it is swallowed
unintentionally, it does not break
the fast.
Inhaling water vapours, as may
happen to people working in
desalination plants, does not break
the fast. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaâ
€™imah, 10/276).
It is disliked (makrooh) to taste food
unnecessarily, because this carries
the risk that the fast may be broken.
Examples of cases where it is
necessary to taste food include a
mother chewing food for an infant
when she has no other way to feed
him, tasting food to make sure that
it is OK, and tasting something
when making a purchase. It was
reported that Ibn †ﮎ Abbaas said:
"There is nothing wrong with tasting
vinegar or anything that one wishes
to buy." (Classed as hasan in Irwaâ
€™ al-Ghaleel, 4/86; See al-Fath,
commentary on Baab Ightisaal al-
Saa’im, Kitaab al-Siyaam).
Using siwaak is Sunnah for the one
who is fasting at all times of the
day, even if it is wet. If a person
who is fasting uses a siwaak and
detects some heat or other taste
from it and swallows it, or if he
takes the siwaak out of his mouth
and sees saliva on it then puts it
back in his mouth and swallows the
saliva, this does not break his fast.
(al-Fataawa al-Sa’diyyah, 245).
He should avoid any substance that
can be diluted, such as the green
siwaak, or siwaak that has any extra
flavour added to it, like lemon or
mint. He should spit out any small
pieces that come off the siwaak in
his mouth; he should not swallow
them deliberately, but if he swallows
them accidentally, there is no harm
done.
If a fasting person is injured or
suffers a nosebleed, or gets water or
petrol in his mouth by accident, this
does not break his fast. If he gets
dust, smoke or flies in his mouth by
accident, this does not break his fast
either. Things that one cannot avoid
swallowing, like one’s own saliva,
or dust from grinding flour, do not
break the fast. If a person gathers a
lot of saliva in his mouth then
swallows it on purpose, this does
not break the fast, according to the
most correct opinion. (al-Mughni by
Ibn Qudaamah, 3/106).
If tears reach one’s throat, or if a
person applies oil to his hair or
moustache, or uses henna, and then
detects the taste of it in his throat,
this does not break his fast. Using
henna, kohl or oil does not break the
fast. (See Majmoo’ al-Fataawa,
25/233, 25/245).
This also applies to creams used to
moisturize and soften the skin.
There is nothing wrong with smelling
pleasant fragrances, using perfume
or applying scented creams and the
like. There is nothing wrong with a
fasting person using bukhoor
(incense), so long as he does not use
it as snuff. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-
Daa’imah, 10/314).
It is better not to use toothpaste
during the day, and to leave it till
night-time, because it is too strong.
(Al-Majaalis, Ibn †ﮎ Uthaymeen, p.
72).
To be on the safe side, it is better
for the fasting person not to be
treated with cupping (hijaamah).
There is a strong difference of
opinion on this matter. Ibn
Taymiyah suggested that the one
who has cupping done breaks his
fast, but the one who does it does
not break his fast.
Smoking breaks the fast, and it
cannot be used as an excuse not to
fast. How can a sin be taken as an
excuse?!
Immersing oneself in water or
wrapping oneself in wet clothes in
order to cool down does not break
the fast. There is nothing wrong with
pouring water over one’s head to
obtain relief from heat and thirst.
Swimming is disliked, because it
might make one break the fast (by
swallowing water). If a person’s
work involves diving and he can be
sure that he will not get water in his
mouth, there is nothing wrong with
this.
If a person eats, drinks or has
intercourse, thinking that it is still
night, then he realizes that dawn
has already broken, there is no harm
done, because the aayah clearly
states that it is permissible to do
these things until one is sure that
dawn has come. †ﮎ Abd al-Razzaaq
reported with a saheeh isnaad going
back to Ibn †ﮎ Abbaas (may Allaah
be pleased with him) that he said:
"Allaah has permitted you to eat
and drink so long as there is any
doubt in your mind." (Fath al-Baari,
4/135; this is also the opinion of
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah,
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 29/263).
If a person breaks his fast, thinking
that the sun has already set when it
has not, he must make up the fast
later on (according to the majority of
scholars), because the principle is
that it is still day, and a fact that is
certain cannot be rejected in favour
of something doubtful. (Shaykh al-
Islam Ibn Taymiyah thought that it
was not necessary for a person in
this situation to make up the fast).
If dawn breaks and a person has
food or drink in his mouth, the
fuqaha’ are agreed that he
should spit it out, and his fast is
valid. This is like the ruling on one
who eats or drinks because he
forgets, then remembers he is
fasting – if he hastens to spit out
the food or drink in his mouth, his
fast is still valid.
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