Fatwa ID: 06585
Answered by: Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum, I hope your Ramadan is going well. I was wondering if it is permissible to brush your teeth (with normal toothpaste that is not unflavored or is not unscented) while in the state of fasting?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Sayyiduna Rabiah ( رضى الله عنه ) states,
رَأيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ما لاَ أُحْصِي يَتَسَوَّكُ وهُوَ صائِمٌ.
“I saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) on countless occasions, brushing his teeth with the tooth stick (miswak), while he was in the state of fasting”. 1
Likewise, Abdur Raḥman Ibn Ghanam (رحمه الله) says,
سَألْت مُعاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ أأتَسَوَّكُ وأنا صائِمٌ قالَ نَعَمْ قُلْت أيَّ النَّهارِ قالَ غَدْوَةٌ أوْ عَشِيَّةٌ قُلْت إنّ النّاسَ يَكْرَهُونَهُ عَشِيَّةً ويَقُولُونَ إنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قالَ «لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصّائِمِ أطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِن رِيحِ المِسْكِ» قالَ سُبْحانَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أمَرَهُمْ بِالسِّواكِ وما كانَ بِاَلَّذِي يَأْمُرُهُمْ أنْ يُيَبِّسُوا بِأفْواهِهِمْ عَمْدًا ما فِي ذَلِكَ مِن الخَيْرِ شَيْءٌ بَلْ فِيهِ شَرٌّ٥.
“I asked Muaz ( رضى الله عنه )‘Shall I brush my teeth while in the state of fasting?”, He replied, “Yes”. I asked, “Which time of the day?”, He answered, “Throughout the day.”, I objected, “The people dislike brushing their teeth during the day and they say the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘The smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with Allah than the smell of musk.’” Muaz Ibn Jabal ( رضى الله عنه ) then said, “Subhan Allah (Glory be to the Allah), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) instructed people to brush the teeth, and it is not from the command of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)that people deliberately leave their mouths dry (and filthy). There is no goodness whatsoever in that but in fact, there is bad in it.”2
Therefore, brushing the teeth while one is fasting is permitted and an established practice of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Hence, brushing the teeth with toothpaste would be permissible with the requirement that the toothpaste and its remanence are not swallowed in any way. Brushing the teeth with toothpaste is disliked action, due to the fact that it is very difficult to avoid the lasting taste that remains after brushing one’s teeth.
Swallowing toothpaste or its taste while in the state of fasting would invalidate the fast.
It is Makruh to use toothpaste whilst one is fasting. Therefore, if the toothpaste goes down the throat, it will invalidate the fast. One may use the miswak to brush the teeth. 3
If you want then you can brush your teeth with toothpaste just before the beginning time of the fast after you have had your pre-dawn meal.
Also, use the Miswak throughout the day while fasting. Finally, brush your teeth after the Iftar with toothpaste.
In the aforementioned case, you should refrain from using toothbrushes and toothpaste during fasting hours.
You should instead use a Miswaak. However, if you did use toothpaste, and nothing went down the throat, then the fast would not break.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Sunan Tirmizi, (Bashshar) Hadith 725, 92/2, Darul Gharbil Islami, Beirut, Lebanon, 1998.
Sharhus Sunnah, Baghawi, Hadith 1757, 298/6, Al-Maktabul Islami, Damascus, Syria, 1403 H.
2 Mujam Kabir, Tabrani, Hadith 133, 70/20, Maktabah Ibn Taimiyah, Cairo, Egypt.
3 لأن الجاذبة قوية فلا يؤمن أن تجذب منه شيئا إلى الباطن عناية
Hashiyat Tahtawee, 679/1, Darul Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First edition 1997.
