Phlegm and Mucous During Ramdan

[gohar]

Here's a simple and straightforward answer to the question of whether phelgm and mucous breaks the fast or salah.

I was praying an obligatory prayer and I had mucous in my mouth out of nowhere. I became confused and swallowed. I was also fasting at the time. Please tell me if my prayer and my fast are valid.





Answered by

Sheikh Muhammad b. Sâlih al-`Uthaymîn





Phlegm and mucous that do not reach the mouth do not cause the fast to break. This is the only opinion expressed on the matter in the (Hanbalî) school of law.

If the phlegm and mucous reach the mouth and then the person swallows it back down, there is disagreement among the scholars regarding whether it breaks the fast.

One opinion is that it does break the fast. They compare swallowing phlegm and mucous to the activities of eating and drinking.

The other opinion is that it does not break the fast. They regard phlegm and mucous to be comparable to saliva. Even if a person gathers saliva in his mouth and swallows it, this will not break his fast.

In a case where the scholars are divided in their opinions, then the matter must be referred back to the Qur’ân and Sunnah. Since we are in doubt about whether ingesting phlegm and mucous invalidates the fast, we must consider that the default assumption in Islamic Law in the absence of other evidence is that it does not do so.

Based on this default assumption, we would say that it does not break the fast.

And Allah knows best.

http://en.islamtoday.net/quesshow-56-560.htm

[Goalshan602]

To the layman, it seems commonsense to spit out mucus and phlegm. You could well be in a situation where that is not possible. In a formal gathering or in a middle row of Tarawih. You may not have a hanky or tissue for spitting into. Swallowing may be the only way. I'd strongly advise against swallowing own phlegm.

[jamie]

To the layman, it seems commonsense to spit out mucus and phlegm. You could well be in a situation where that is not possible. In a formal gathering or in a middle row of Tarawih. You may not have a hanky or tissue for spitting into. Swallowing may be the only way. I'd strongly advise against swallowing own phlegm.

if u swallow ur own phlegm it causes no problem at all your acids must destroy any bacteria
if u spit it in the street it can spread diseases
if u swallow it and ur fasting how can that be breaking a fast???
its not providing nutrition or fluid

[Aky786Journalist]

Thanks for this Gohar, I tend to get hayfever symptoms and my chest does have phlegm etc in my chest which as much as I try, I doubt I can cough out especially when I'm working so I have to swallow it. Allah knows best.

[Goalshan602]

if u swallow ur own phlegm it causes no problem at all your acids must destroy any bacteria
if u spit it in the street it can spread diseases
if u swallow it and ur fasting how can that be breaking a fast???
its not providing nutrition or fluid

If you're an asthmatic swallowing your own phlegm can lead to it lining your windpipe, making breathing difficult.

Both mucus and phlegm are waste products from the body and should be got rid of asap. if spitting is inappropriate use a tissue and bin it.

[jamie]

If you're an asthmatic swallowing your own phlegm can lead to it lining your windpipe, making breathing difficult.

Both mucus and phlegm are waste products from the body and should be got rid of asap. if spitting is inappropriate use a tissue and bin it.

well that doesn't make sense no1 mucus is a body function it is need to provide protection so it's def not a waste product

no 2 phlegm when its coughed into the mouth comes up the wind pipe into the mouth so swallowing it means it gis down the osophagis not back down into the windpipe, so no damage

gohar should know this cos he's a doc

[Goalshan602]

Jamie i stand corrected about through windpipe. its too far down. i was meaning to use throat.

[Seperatist]

Are phlegm and mucus halal?