How To Chew Gum Without Breaking Your Fast In Ramazan
18/05/2019-Updated-28/12/2019
Everyone likes to chew gum and chewing gum has become an official breath freshener for many people but now there is a kind of debate that is going on among the Muslim community that chewing chewing gum or bubblegum during Ramazan is strictly haram. Ramazan is a month of fasting for a Muslim and the reward for the one who fasts is given by Allah (swt). Now an intriguing question arises among Muslims and that is whether you can chew chewing gum or bubble gum or anything chewable while fasting.
The argument that chewing that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is haram is based on the argument that the chewing gum has flavorings in it and when you chew it you can swallow the the taste and this makes it haram. My answer is, you can still wash the chewing gum until the taste of the flavor is gone and chew it. Then another argument arises and that is you can't swallow saliva and chewing chewing gum produces more saliva and that makes you swallow it. There is plenty of evidence from the authentic hadith to prove that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum while fasting is halal in Islam and let me point out the facts.
Swallowing Saliva or Water From Ablution
This saliva argument has no basis in Islam and rinsing your mouth is not haram in Islam. The evidence is as follows:
"‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
In this hadith it is clear that rinsing your mouth with water is allowed in Islam and swallowing the remnants of the water is not haram because there is not mention in the authentic hadith forbidding such a thing. Allah says:
"Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”
(Al Quran-2:185)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: He does not have to spit even after drinking water when he hears the adhaan for Fajr. There is no report from the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) as far as we know to suggest that when a person drinks when dawn breaks he has to spit until the taste of the water disappears. Rather this is an area in which there is lenience.
(Al-Mumti’, 6/428).
Even if you swallow anything including water or the flavor in the chewing gum by mistake it won't break the fast because it is a mistake. The prophet (Sal) said:
"Verily Allah has pardoned [or been lenient with] for me my ummah: their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they have been forced to do under duress"
(Baihaqi, Ibn Majah-Graded Hasan Sahih by Albani and others)
From this it can be concluded that chewing chewing gum, Bubble gum or anything chewy is allowed in Islam by simply washing off the flavor and chewing it.
Using Miswak While Fasting
Miswak is a tooth cleaning twig taken from the "Arak" tree and is a beautiful sunnah of the prophet (Sal). Chewing chewing gum is halal while fasting in Ramazan because of the fact that you can use miswak while fasting. There is a huge misunderstanding among some Muslims that using miswak or chewing bubble gum is haram based on a hadith and the hadith is as follows.
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said,
“The smell of the fasting person’s mouth is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The above hadith is misunderstood by many thinking that a Muslim should not try to keep his mouth fresh from odor. First of all, if we analyze the hadith,we can understand is that the prophet(Sal) never ordered the Muslims keep their mouths with a bad odor while fasting. What he meant in this hadith is that what ever odor that emanates from the fasting person's mouth is better in the eyes of Allah than musk. The odor that comes from a Muslim who is fasting is because of an empty stomach and not from the mouth. There is clear evidence to prove that the prophet(Sal) used the miswak to rinse his mouth.
Amir bin Rabi'a(Rali) narrated
"I saw the Prophet (Sal) cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count."
(Bukhari)
The above hadith is proof that cleaning your mouth with a miswak is not haram and even the prophet(Sal) used the miswak many times while fasting.
Abu Huraira (Rali)narrated,
The Prophet (Sal) 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."
(Bukhari)
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
Allah's Messenger (Sal) said, "If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith the prophet (Sal) said that if not for fearing that the using of miswak would cause any hardship for Muslims, he would have ordered them to use it on every ablution and prayer and he never made any distinction from normal day or fasting and if the use of miswak was prohibited on fasting days, he would have mentioned it.
Jabir and Zaid bin Khalid (Rali) narrated from the Prophet who did not differentiate between a fasting and a non fasting person in this respect (using Siwak).
(Bukhari-The first hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated and mentioned in Volume 3, Book 31, Number 155)
Even swallowing the saliva when using the miswak is allowed while fasting because of the below hadith,
"‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
The miswak was used by the prophet(Sal) to clean and purify the mouth and one of the main reasons for mouth odor is due to food remnants getting stuck in the teeth and rinsing or cleaning the mouth is mainly done to improve the smell of the mouth. Aisha(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said
"It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasures."
(Bukhari-Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154)
After the above narration Imam Bukhari mentioned that Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm in swallowing the resultant saliva." meaning that swallowing saliva is not haram.
All of these hadith prove beyond doubt that rinsing your moth or cleaning it is not haram while fasting and the same could be said on chewing bubble gum or chewing gum.
How To Chew Bubble Gum or Chewing Gum While Fasting
Chewing chewing gum or bubble gum during Ramazan or days of fasting can be done easily by just washing the gum in running water for like one minute until the flavor juices have disappeared.If you fear that you might swallow the flavorings in the chewing gum or bubble gum, what I can say on this is Allah(Swt) is merciful and saliva keep on producing in your mouth and the amount of saliva increases when you chew gum and that is good for your mouth because it keeps your mouth from getting dry and emanating a bad smell. Allah(Swt) says:
"Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”
(Al Quran-2:185)
chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is similar to gargling the mouth or using a miswak while fasting because what ever remnants can be swallowed.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
If swallowing the remnants of the water in your mouth after rinsing is not haram according to the above hadith, so is swallowing the remnants of the jiuces of the chewing gum or bubble gum and this can be done by simply washing it. generally, chewing gum or bubble gum or any other chewable thing has sugar and some Muslims might think that swallowing the sugar is haram while fasting. What matter is the intention and if it is done with the intention of not purposely swallowing it is not haram. Umar (Rali) said that he heard the prophet(Sal) say,
"Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
There is a widespread opinion among some scholars and madhhabs that anything that reaches the stomach through the mouth will invalidate the fast. This view has no strong basis in the Quran or authentic hadiths. Some even give their own explanations on what will or not break the fast if it enters the stomach.For one example, Shaykh ul Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah said that the fast of a person is not broken unless something nourishing goes in to a stomach as mentioned in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa -20/528. All of these arguments are just personal opinions of scholars and what Islam says is that your fast is only invalidated if you intentionally eat or drink something and swallowing unintentionally will not break the fast. The prophet(Sal) said,
“Whoever breaks his fast in Ramadaan by mistake does not have to make it up or offer any expiation.”
(Hakim-Graded Sahih by Albani)
The prophet(Sal) also said,
"If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink."
(Bukhari)
From all the above evidence it is clear that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is ahal while fasting during Ramazan and this should not be made in to a big issue because Islam is a religion of mercy and ease not hardship and extremism.
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said,
“Verily, the religion is easy and no one burdens himself in religion but that it overwhelms him. Follow the right course, seek closeness to Allah, give glad tidings, and seek help for worship in the morning and evening and a part of the night.”
(Bukhari)
It also should be understood that the above practical solution of hewing gum while fasting while help Muslims gain confidence during Ramazan with out been ridiculed or looked down upon when in public gathering,workplaces or any other situation where the non Muslims are there. So, do not get burdened or burden yourself by limiting your speech during Ramazan in fear that people might think bad about you because of your bad breathe and clean your mouth and gain confidence. Allah(Swt) says,
God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity."
(Al-Quran-2:286)
Everyone likes to chew gum and chewing gum has become an official breath freshener for many people but now there is a kind of debate that is going on among the Muslim community that chewing chewing gum or bubblegum during Ramazan is strictly haram. Ramazan is a month of fasting for a Muslim and the reward for the one who fasts is given by Allah (swt). Now an intriguing question arises among Muslims and that is whether you can chew chewing gum or bubble gum or anything chewable while fasting.
The argument that chewing that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is haram is based on the argument that the chewing gum has flavorings in it and when you chew it you can swallow the the taste and this makes it haram. My answer is, you can still wash the chewing gum until the taste of the flavor is gone and chew it. Then another argument arises and that is you can't swallow saliva and chewing chewing gum produces more saliva and that makes you swallow it. There is plenty of evidence from the authentic hadith to prove that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum while fasting is halal in Islam and let me point out the facts.
Swallowing Saliva or Water From Ablution
This saliva argument has no basis in Islam and rinsing your mouth is not haram in Islam. The evidence is as follows:
"‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
In this hadith it is clear that rinsing your mouth with water is allowed in Islam and swallowing the remnants of the water is not haram because there is not mention in the authentic hadith forbidding such a thing. Allah says:
"Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”
(Al Quran-2:185)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: He does not have to spit even after drinking water when he hears the adhaan for Fajr. There is no report from the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) as far as we know to suggest that when a person drinks when dawn breaks he has to spit until the taste of the water disappears. Rather this is an area in which there is lenience.
(Al-Mumti’, 6/428).
Even if you swallow anything including water or the flavor in the chewing gum by mistake it won't break the fast because it is a mistake. The prophet (Sal) said:
"Verily Allah has pardoned [or been lenient with] for me my ummah: their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they have been forced to do under duress"
(Baihaqi, Ibn Majah-Graded Hasan Sahih by Albani and others)
From this it can be concluded that chewing chewing gum, Bubble gum or anything chewy is allowed in Islam by simply washing off the flavor and chewing it.
Using Miswak While Fasting
Miswak is a tooth cleaning twig taken from the "Arak" tree and is a beautiful sunnah of the prophet (Sal). Chewing chewing gum is halal while fasting in Ramazan because of the fact that you can use miswak while fasting. There is a huge misunderstanding among some Muslims that using miswak or chewing bubble gum is haram based on a hadith and the hadith is as follows.
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said,
“The smell of the fasting person’s mouth is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The above hadith is misunderstood by many thinking that a Muslim should not try to keep his mouth fresh from odor. First of all, if we analyze the hadith,we can understand is that the prophet(Sal) never ordered the Muslims keep their mouths with a bad odor while fasting. What he meant in this hadith is that what ever odor that emanates from the fasting person's mouth is better in the eyes of Allah than musk. The odor that comes from a Muslim who is fasting is because of an empty stomach and not from the mouth. There is clear evidence to prove that the prophet(Sal) used the miswak to rinse his mouth.
Amir bin Rabi'a(Rali) narrated
"I saw the Prophet (Sal) cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count."
(Bukhari)
The above hadith is proof that cleaning your mouth with a miswak is not haram and even the prophet(Sal) used the miswak many times while fasting.
Abu Huraira (Rali)narrated,
The Prophet (Sal) 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."
(Bukhari)
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
Allah's Messenger (Sal) said, "If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith the prophet (Sal) said that if not for fearing that the using of miswak would cause any hardship for Muslims, he would have ordered them to use it on every ablution and prayer and he never made any distinction from normal day or fasting and if the use of miswak was prohibited on fasting days, he would have mentioned it.
Jabir and Zaid bin Khalid (Rali) narrated from the Prophet who did not differentiate between a fasting and a non fasting person in this respect (using Siwak).
(Bukhari-The first hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated and mentioned in Volume 3, Book 31, Number 155)
Even swallowing the saliva when using the miswak is allowed while fasting because of the below hadith,
"‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
The miswak was used by the prophet(Sal) to clean and purify the mouth and one of the main reasons for mouth odor is due to food remnants getting stuck in the teeth and rinsing or cleaning the mouth is mainly done to improve the smell of the mouth. Aisha(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said
"It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasures."
(Bukhari-Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154)
After the above narration Imam Bukhari mentioned that Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm in swallowing the resultant saliva." meaning that swallowing saliva is not haram.
All of these hadith prove beyond doubt that rinsing your moth or cleaning it is not haram while fasting and the same could be said on chewing bubble gum or chewing gum.
How To Chew Bubble Gum or Chewing Gum While Fasting
Chewing chewing gum or bubble gum during Ramazan or days of fasting can be done easily by just washing the gum in running water for like one minute until the flavor juices have disappeared.If you fear that you might swallow the flavorings in the chewing gum or bubble gum, what I can say on this is Allah(Swt) is merciful and saliva keep on producing in your mouth and the amount of saliva increases when you chew gum and that is good for your mouth because it keeps your mouth from getting dry and emanating a bad smell. Allah(Swt) says:
"Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”
(Al Quran-2:185)
chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is similar to gargling the mouth or using a miswak while fasting because what ever remnants can be swallowed.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I kissed (my wife) whilst I was fasting. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, today I did something grievous, I kissed whilst I was fasting.’ He said, ‘What do you think about rinsing your mouth whilst you are fasting?’ I said, ‘There is nothing wrong with it.’ He said, ‘Then what’s wrong?"
(Adu Dawud and Tirmidhi and authenticated by Sheikh Albani)
If swallowing the remnants of the water in your mouth after rinsing is not haram according to the above hadith, so is swallowing the remnants of the jiuces of the chewing gum or bubble gum and this can be done by simply washing it. generally, chewing gum or bubble gum or any other chewable thing has sugar and some Muslims might think that swallowing the sugar is haram while fasting. What matter is the intention and if it is done with the intention of not purposely swallowing it is not haram. Umar (Rali) said that he heard the prophet(Sal) say,
"Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
There is a widespread opinion among some scholars and madhhabs that anything that reaches the stomach through the mouth will invalidate the fast. This view has no strong basis in the Quran or authentic hadiths. Some even give their own explanations on what will or not break the fast if it enters the stomach.For one example, Shaykh ul Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah said that the fast of a person is not broken unless something nourishing goes in to a stomach as mentioned in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa -20/528. All of these arguments are just personal opinions of scholars and what Islam says is that your fast is only invalidated if you intentionally eat or drink something and swallowing unintentionally will not break the fast. The prophet(Sal) said,
“Whoever breaks his fast in Ramadaan by mistake does not have to make it up or offer any expiation.”
(Hakim-Graded Sahih by Albani)
The prophet(Sal) also said,
"If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink."
(Bukhari)
From all the above evidence it is clear that chewing chewing gum or bubble gum is ahal while fasting during Ramazan and this should not be made in to a big issue because Islam is a religion of mercy and ease not hardship and extremism.
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated,
The prophet(Sal) said,
“Verily, the religion is easy and no one burdens himself in religion but that it overwhelms him. Follow the right course, seek closeness to Allah, give glad tidings, and seek help for worship in the morning and evening and a part of the night.”
(Bukhari)
It also should be understood that the above practical solution of hewing gum while fasting while help Muslims gain confidence during Ramazan with out been ridiculed or looked down upon when in public gathering,workplaces or any other situation where the non Muslims are there. So, do not get burdened or burden yourself by limiting your speech during Ramazan in fear that people might think bad about you because of your bad breathe and clean your mouth and gain confidence. Allah(Swt) says,
God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity."
(Al-Quran-2:286)