Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it permissible to brush one`s teeth using toothpaste when fasting? As far as I know, it is permissible as long as the toothpaste is not swallowed. Please give your input on this.  

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Answer:

Toothpaste brush fasting

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is it permissible to brush one`s teeth using toothpaste when fasting?

Because the available forms of fluoride based toothpastes today were not present during the time of the Revelation of the Quran, the Quran and the Sunnah are obviously silent on the issue.

The scholars and jurists in Islam have differed in their opinion regarding the permissibility of using modern forms of toothpaste during fasting; some say that because it leaves a distinct flavor and taste and there is a fear that it might go beyond the throats and thus invalidate their fasts, it would be best to abstain from its usage while fasting; but some scholars hold it permissible with the condition that it should not be swallowed or go beyond the throats of a believer who is fasting. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

A better alternative to using toothpaste while fasting would be the usage of the ‘siwak’ stick to clean ones teeth and freshen one’s breath, as was the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.154 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Narrated Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet (saws) cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." And narrated Abu Huraira, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution.' " The Prophet (saws) did not differentiate between a fasting and a non-fasting person in this respect (using Siwak).

Aisha said, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasure.' Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm if a fasting person swallows the resultant saliva on using the ‘siwak’ as it does not invalidate their fast in any way."

Hadith Qudsi 10

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah Subhanah, Glorified and Exalted is He Says: “Fasting is Mine and it I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for My sake.” Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah's estimation than the smell of musk.

Beloved brother, if one makes it a habit to brush one’s teeth thoroughly after one’s pre-dawn meal or ‘suhoor’, it will definitely help in decreasing the bad-breath for the rest of the fasting day. If it still persists, one may use the ‘siwak’ stick to clean one’s teeth while fasting. The usage of a fresh ‘siwak’ will markedly reduce one’s bad-breath while fasting, if not totally eliminate it.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan