Does miswak break the fast?
Smoking, using hookah and consuming tobacco products such as snuff are also among the actions that break the fast. In addition, oral medications, vitamins and nutrient injections also break the fast. Because they aim to provide nutrients directly to the body. Applications such as eye drops, ear drops or nasal spray are also controversial. It is accepted that a drug taken into the nose will break the fast if it goes into the stomach from the throat. While oral medications are used as a gargle, swallowing water or paste is also among the situations that break the fast.
One of the most frequently asked questions today is about dental treatment and bloodletting. It is accepted that anesthetic sprays and local anesthesia used during dental treatment do not break the fast if they do not enter the stomach. However, it should not be forgotten that swallowing blood from the mouth will break the fast. Similarly, while injecting non-nutritive liquids into the body does not break the fast, there are different views among the sects about the effect of bloodletting on the fast.
ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTORATE OF RELIGIOUS RESOURCES, DOES USING MISWAK BREAK THE FAST?
Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam and represents a great spiritual discipline for Muslims. During worship, a person must abstain from eating, drinking and some physical activities. However, there may be occasional hesitations regarding certain hygiene-related issues such as cleaning one's teeth while fasting. In this context, questions regarding the use of miswak in particular frequently come to the fore. According to the Presidency of Religious Affairs, using a miswak by a fasting person does not break the fast. It is also emphasized here that some details should be taken into consideration.
In Islamic history and hadith, the use of miswak is a sunnah encouraged especially by our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Our Prophet emphasized the importance of oral hygiene and dental care and recommended the use of miswak. Although there are different opinions on the use of miswak by a fasting person, the generally accepted view, and also adopted by the Presidency of Religious Affairs, is that it does not break the fast. Miswak is a natural teeth cleaning tool and as long as it does not contain any chemical substances or sweeteners, it is not considered harmful for a fasting person to use it.
Of course, there are some points to be careful about. First of all, care should be taken not to bleed from the gums when using the miswak. If the gums are irritated and bleed while using the miswak, there is a risk of breaking the fast if this blood is swallowed. Therefore, it is important not to apply too much pressure and not to damage the gums when using the miswak. Chewing the miswak and swallowing its fibers can also break the fast. Therefore, caution should be taken when using the miswak and the fibers should be prevented from entering the stomach.
In addition, another controversial issue regarding the use of miswak is the distinction between wet and dry miswak. While there is generally no harm in using dry miswak, some scholars state that using wet miswak may be makruh. The reason for this is that wet miswak contains more liquid and there is a possibility that this liquid will reach the stomach. The Presidency of Religious Affairs has made a clear ruling on this issue and stated that wet miswak does not break the fast either. Nevertheless, in order to be cautious, it is necessary to prevent excessive accumulation of saliva while using miswak and to take care not to allow water to reach the stomach.
In addition, a similar sensitivity should be shown in cleaning teeth with modern toothpastes and brushes. According to the Directorate of Religious Affairs, brushing teeth while fasting does not break the fast; however, the important thing here is that the toothpaste or water used does not get into the stomach. If a person unknowingly swallows toothpaste or water while brushing their teeth, this may break the fast. Therefore, it is necessary not to use too much water when cleaning teeth while fasting and to spit out any remaining water in the mouth.
DIFFERENCES ACCORDING TO SECTS
There are different views among the schools of thought on using a miswak while fasting. According to the Hanafi school of thought, using a miswak does not break the fast and can be used at any time of the day. There are some Hanafi scholars who say that using a miswak in the afternoon is disliked. The reason for this is that the natural smell in the mouth while fasting is seen as a virtue in terms of worship and that the miswak can eliminate this smell.
The Shafi'i school of thought considers the use of the miswak as recommended (a good deed) at any time of the day and does not consider it makruh even in the afternoon. The Maliki school of thought also has a positive approach to the use of the miswak and considers it permissible at any time of the day. In the Hanbali school of thought, while the use of the miswak in the morning is encouraged, its use in the afternoon has been considered makruh by some scholars. In general, all schools of thought agree that the miswak does not break the fast unless it is swallowed.
Habertürk
