important question for ramadhan

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Can one brush his or her teeth with toothpaste while fasting? why or why not?

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Re: important question for ramadhan

Praise be to Allaah.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about using toothpaste whilst fasting. He said: there is nothing wrong with that so long as one is careful to avoid swallowing any of it, just as it is prescribed in Islam for the fasting person to use the siwaak (tooth-stick)

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 4/247

Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

… This leads us to the question: Is it permissible to use a toothbrush and toothpaste whilst fasting or not?

The answer is that it is permitted, but it is preferable not to use them because the toothpaste is too strong and may go down into the throat. Instead of doing that during the day, one should do it at night.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 6/407, 408

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

The eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, adds:

Using a brush while one is fasting is not blameworthy, provided that no toothpaste or similar substances reach the stomach. If anything reaches the stomach, it breaks one's fast according to the majority of Muslim jurists.

If one is cautious and brushes his teeth and out of forgetfulness some traces reach his stomach, he is not sinful, as Allah forgives the mistakes of Muslims that are made unintentionally. Allah, Exalted be He, says: (And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally.) (Al-Ahzab 33: 5) And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: "My nation shall not be held accountable for the mistakes they do unintentionally, out of forgetfulness, and under duress." (Reported by Ibn Majah)

I prefer not to use toothpaste while fasting, because even after the toothpaste is washed out, you can still taste the mint or flavor of some tooth pastes. And if you can taste it, it's there, which means you might swallow it. But I sometimes take unnecessary measures to avoid some things which may not be necessary. And Allah knows best.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

I also follow this as I heard it from the scholar that I follow in terms of guidance. To be more careful, use a toothpaste that does not have heavy flavor or smell.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

I on the other hand do not accept the above ...

becuase .. even the taste of something breaks your fast .. like it IS permissable to open fast with salt ..and we dont take a spoonful or handful do we .. we take a pinch of it and open our fast ..this is an example to clarify my view .. so since toothpaste has even the little flavour / taste .. according to my knowledge it breaks fast.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

^ Agreed ... It is most likely a fiqh - difference of opinion. I am of the understanding that the "bad smell" in the mouth during the fast is "pleasant to Allah" more than perfume. So to mask this smell is questionable which does not infer ingestion at all. Brushing the teeth is acceptable without paste.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

Prophet Mohammad SAW used to brush his teeth more in fast than other days. He used fresh miswak which had taste and he said, there is nothing wrong in using it because water also has taste.

Many people avoid brushing their teeth during the day in Ramadhan. This is a mistake, since there is no contradiction between observing the fast during Ramadhan and brushing one’s teeth. Moreover, Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Were it not for the hardship that I would be placing upon my people, I would have ordered them to engage in Siwak for every prayer.” [Sahih al-Bukhari (887) and Sahih Muslim (252)]

We must understand that the word “Siwak” does not just refer to the tree branches that are used as tooth sticks, but to the act of brushing the teeth itself. It is derived from the verb sak, meaning to rub, clean, buff, or polish.

So, we should keep our mouth and body clean and free of any bad or horrible smell, especially when you are working with a non-Muslim who may accuse Islam or insult Muslims because of Ramadhan fasting. Allah says: “Keep you duty to Allah (SWT) as far as you can.” (Holy Quran, 64:16)

Note: Some people assume that brushing the teeth while fasting during the month of Ramadhan is discouraged on the basis of the hadith where Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, the Khaluf of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah (SWT) than the scent of musk.” [Sahih al-Bukhari (1893) and Sahih Muslim (1151)]

The assumption that this hadith discourages brushing one’s teeth while fasting is incorrect. Because the Khaluf is the smell that comes from the stomach when it is empty of food and is not a smell emanating from the mouth.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

How many time we brush our teeth in a day? lets say 3 times (morning, afternoon and at night before go to bed). During the month of ramadhan we can brush our teeth twice in a day (in morning and in evening) instead of 3 times. It will not caused any damages/harm our teeth if we brush twice a day in ramadhan (i think) and we can avoid ourself from all above situation whether it is permitted or prohibited. We can brush our immediately after sehri and after iftari.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

I totally disgree with the logic of breaking the fast with salt.

1st of all, salt portrays the breaking of fast but I am sure prophet used to drink water after that. You dont drink water after brushing your teeth in roza, do you?

2nd, its allowed for women or any cook to taste the food if they think its required. That does not break the fast, does it?

3rd, smell of mouth is not the requirement of roza so trying to hide it is not going to break the roza.

4th, what if you break a tooth and mouth starts bleeding. Unless you swallow the blood, is your roza gone? I dont think your fast is gone if your tooth gets broken unless you swallow.

in nutshell, unless you swallow your toothpaste, I am not sure how you can break your roza by brushing your teeth.

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Re: important question for ramadhan

there are many places where people do not have "Sweet Water" available. and they use ground water which is a little salty (brine) sometimes taste of that water is very very noticeable. there are soooo many masajid where you only get this kind of water for wadoo.

so going by the logic you mentioned, all those who make their wadoo with that water, actually end up breaking their fast???? doesn't fit very well i guess.

one has to swallow something to break the fast.

having said that, its always good to be on safe side and not use paste if you think you may not be able to stop it passing through your throat. Otherwise, its perfectly fine to use toothpaste if you do not swallow...

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Re: important question for ramadhan

miswak has flavor why is that permissible during fasting?