The most awaited holiest month of the year, Ramadan is here. The Muslims know that the month comes once a year and want to grab as many good deeds for the hereafter as possible. Fasting is a compulsory virtue that is to be performed by all Muslims who are healthy and eligible. Yet the Muslims do have concerns for their fast. Where it is difficult to restrain from food and water from suhoor to after, Muslims are conscious that their fast is accepted otherwise all their efforts will go in vain. There are some deeds that are prohibited whilst fasting and they break the fast. So, Muslims restraint from those activities.
However, there are some activities which are doubtful: most Muslims are not confirmed that will those activities break the fast or not? And the most doubtful activity is of brushing teeth using toothpaste. We have seen most Muslims asking a question that is it permissible to use toothpaste while fasting? Well, we all know that Prophet (PBUH) would use Miswak, which is a tooth stick for cleaning up his (PBUH) teeth whilst fasting. As per now, most people use toothpaste and toothbrush for cleaning up the teeth. So, their question is if it is permissible to use Miswak, is it permissible to use toothpaste?
Well, as in the past there was no toothbrush and toothpaste, we must have a verdict from the Islamic scholars and Ulmah. They can guide us better. So here we are presenting to you the verdict of 3 very renowned Islamic scholars: Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and Dr. Zakir Naik.
According to Shaykh Ibn Baaz, it is perfectly okay to use toothpaste for cleaning teeth during fast. However, one should be careful that the toothpaste does not has a strong flavor and is not swallowed. If it is swallowed, the fast is broken and if it is of strong flavor it might move down in the throat resulting in the breaking of fast. His fatwa can be searched in his compilation known as Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz. The fatwa number is 4/247
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, further added that it is better to use toothpaste at night than in the morning. So, one shall be on the safe side and clean teeth in non-fasting hours. His verdict can be found in his writing, Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen. The opinion number is 6/407.
The very renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik is also of the same view. He says that as the Prophet (PBUH) would use Miswak, toothpaste is permissible. According to the most of the Ulmah, Muslims should avoid strongly flavored toothpaste while fasting. Swallowing toothpaste will lead to the breaking of fast. We hope that the information was helpful. We hope that all your fasts and prayers are accepted. May Allah guide us all towards the correct path! Amen.
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