country start to distribute pamphlets explaining how to fast and what
breaks the fast.
One of the things they sayis that the one who swallows phlegm or
mucus, or puts his finger in his ear, has broken his fast. Is this
correct?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed concerning the
fasting person swallowingphlegm or mucus: does it invalidate the fast
or not? The correct view is that it does not invalidate it, because it
does not come under the same heading as food and drink.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim) said: When the
scholars differ, the reference point is the Qur'aan and Sunnah. If
weare uncertain about a matter, as to whether it invalidates the act
of worship or does not, the basic principle is that it does not
invalidate it (unless there is evidence to the contrary). Based on
that, swallowing phlegm does not break the fast.
What matters is that one should leave phlegm and avoid trying to bring
it upto the mouth from the throat. But if it comes up to the mouth, he
should expel it, whether he is fasting or not. With regard to putting
drops inthe ears and whether thatbreaks the fast, that requires
evidence that will be proof for the individual before Allah, may He be
glorified and exalted, concerning breaking the fast.
End quote from Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 19/356
He also said: The more correct view is that phlegm does not break the
fast even if it reaches the mouth and one swallows it. It does not
break the fast but one should not swallow it, because the scholars
forbade that, because it is something off-putting and one should not
swallow it.
End quote from Liqa' al-Baab al-Maftooh, no. 152
Secondly:
As for putting one's finger in one's ear, that definitely does not
break the fast. In fact, even if one puts drops or medicine in the ear
and can taste it in the throat, that does not invalidate the fast
because there is no evidence to suggest that the fast is invalidatedby
that.
And Allah knows best.
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