Can I brush my teeth while fasting?
The question as asked, details removedIs it allowed to use a miswak or toothpaste while fasting?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
Miswak is allowed at any time of the day while fasting and is sunnah. Toothpaste is disliked (makruh) while fasting because of its taste, and if any of it goes down the throat the fast breaks. Brush with paste before dawn or after iftar.
2Detailed answer
There is a difference between the two:
- Miswak, or a dry toothbrush without paste, is allowed at any time of the day while fasting, and the miswak keeps its sunnah reward.
- Toothpaste or tooth powder is makruh while fasting because one tastes it, and there is a real risk of some reaching the throat.
- If any toothpaste goes down the throat, the fast breaks and must be made up.
The simple way is to brush with paste at suhur, before dawn, and again after iftar, and use only a miswak or a dry brush during the day.
3Evidence and sources
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Book of Fasting
- Radd al-Muhtar, Book of Fasting
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on what is disliked while fasting
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ما لا أحصي يتسوك وهو صائم
Meaning: I saw the Prophet ﷺ use the miswak while fasting more times than I can count.
The hadith shows that miswak is allowed while fasting. The fuqaha state that tasting something without need is makruh for a fasting person, which is the reason toothpaste is disliked.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ