The Ruling on Swallowing Saliva, Phlegm, and Vomit During Fasting According to the Book Asna al-Matalib

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the day during Ramadan with a sore throat due to the flu? Or perhaps you are unsure after gargling for wudu, whether the remaining water in your mouth is permissible to swallow?

Issues surrounding the mouth and throat area can often be confusing. On the one hand, we know that putting something into the body invalidates fasting. But on the other hand, humans naturally produce saliva, which is difficult to avoid. So where is the line?

To address this doubt, we will refer to one of the main reference books in Shafi’i fiqh, namely Asna al-Matalib Syarah Rawd at-Talib by Sheikh Zakariyya al-Anshari. In this book (Volume 1, pp. 414-418), he thoroughly discusses the differences in the laws governing saliva, phlegm, and vomit with great precision.

Let’s discuss them one by one so that our fasting is valid and peaceful.

1. The Ruling on Swallowing Saliva (Spit)

The basic ruling on swallowing saliva is that it is PERMISSIBLE and does not invalidate the fast. This is because it is difficult to guard against saliva (‘usr at-taharruz). Imagine if every time saliva accumulated we had to spit it out, it would certainly be very troublesome and distracting.

However, Sheikh Zakariyya provided an important note. There are conditions for saliva that can be swallowed.

a. Conditions for Saliva to be Safe to Swallow

According to the text of the book Asna al-Matalib, saliva does not invalidate fasting if it meets three criteria:

1. Pure (Sarf): The saliva is pure saliva, not mixed with other substances.
2. Ritually Pure (Tahir): Saliva is not considered unclean (Najis)
3. Not yet out of the mouth: Saliva is still within the lips.

In the book it is stated:

فرع: لو (ابتلع ريقه الصرف) (لم يفطر) لعسر التحرز عنه

Meaning: “Note: If he swallows his pure saliva, his fast is not invalidated because it is difficult to refrain from doing so.”

b. When Does Swallowing Saliva Become Invalid?

Be careful, saliva can invalidate fasting if the following conditions apply:

• Mixed with Other Substances: For example, your gums are bleeding, and then you swallow saliva mixed with blood. Or there are traces of dye from sewing thread that has dissolved in your mouth. Even though your saliva has returned to its normal color, if you have not rinsed your mouth to remove the foreign substance, then swallowing it invalidates your fast
  .
• Already Out of the Mouth: If saliva has already dripped out past the lips, or you deliberately moisten the sewing thread with saliva, then pull the thread back and swallow the moisture, then it is invalid. This is because the saliva is considered to have been “separated” from its source.
  قوله: (أو زايل) ريقه (فمه) أي خرج منه ولو إلى ظاهر الشفة… (لا) إن زايل ريقه فمه (في لسانه)
  However, if the saliva is only moving around on the tongue (still inside the mouth), it is okay to swallow it.

2. Phlegm Problems (Nukhama): Between the Throat and Mouth

Unlike saliva, phlegm (nukhama) is a thick substance that comes from the chest or head cavity. The ruling on it is stricter than that on saliva.

To understand the law of phlegm, we must know the boundaries of the outer and inner throat.

(وحدد الظاهر بمخرج الحاء المهملة)

The “Outside” boundary is the articulation point (makhraj) of the letter Ha’ (ح).

a. If Phlegm Remains Inside

As long as the phlegm remains in the back of the throat (before the articulation point of the letter Ha’) and has not risen to the oral cavity, if it is swallowed back, the fast is NOT invalidated.

b. If phlegm has risen to the mouth

If phlegm has risen to the outer limit (oral cavity) and you are able to expel it, then you MUST expel it.

If phlegm is already in your mouth, and you swallow it back even though you could spit it out, then your fast is INVALID.

قوله: (يفطر باستخراج القيء إليه وابتلاع النخامة منه سواء استدعاها) أي استقلعها إلى الفم والأنف (أم لا)

Meaning: “Fasting is invalidated by vomiting and swallowing phlegm from outside the mouth, whether intentionally induced or not.”

c. If Unable to Dispose

What if the phlegm suddenly drops into the throat and is swallowed without being able to prevent it? Sheikh Zakariyya explains:

قوله: (فإن جرت بنفسها) من الفم أو الأنف ونزلت إلى جوفه (عاجزا عن المج) لها (فلا) يفطر للعذر

Meaning: “If phlegm flows naturally from the mouth or nose and then descends into the throat without the person being able to expel it, then it is not invalidated because there is an excuse.”

So, the key is ability. If you can spit it out but swallow it = Invalid. If you swallow it accidentally/don’t have time to spit it out = Valid.

3. The Law of Vomiting: Intentional vs. Unintentional

The law on vomiting is divided into two main conditions: whether the vomiting occurs spontaneously or is induced.

a. Intentional Vomiting (Istiqa’a)

Putting your finger down your throat because you feel nauseous or doing something to make yourself vomit invalidates your fast. Even if you are sure that you did not swallow any vomit, the act of inducing vomiting itself invalidates your fast.

قوله: (و) يفطر (باستدعاء القيء) وإن لم يعد شيء منه إلى جوفه مفطر لعينه

Meaning: “And fasting is invalidated by inducing vomiting, even if nothing returns to the throat, because vomiting itself invalidates it.”

b. Unintentional Vomiting (Ghalabah/Dhar’a)

If you suddenly feel extremely nauseous and then vomit unintentionally, your fast is NOT invalidated.

قوله: (لا إن ذرعه) القيء… فلا يفطر به

Requirements:

1. Do not swallow back any vomit that remains in your mouth.
2. Rinse your mouth immediately to clean it before swallowing saliva again.

This explanation also relates to the accidental entry of other objects into the body. Read the details of the medical rules in the article Do Injections, IVs, and Eye Drops Invalidate Fasting?

4. Food Remnants or Residue

These are small things that often cause anxiety. Here is the explanation according to the book Asna al-Matalib:

a. Food debris between teeth

If there are leftover bits of suhoor stuck in your teeth, and they are carried away by your saliva and accidentally swallowed, does that invalidate your fast?

• If the food residue is very small, difficult to distinguish, and difficult to separate from saliva, then it is forgiven (not invalid).
• If the food residue can be felt, separated, and discarded (spit out), but you allow it to be swallowed, then it is invalid.

قوله: (ولا) يفطره… (جري الريق ببقايا طعام بين أسنانه لم يمكن تمييزه حسا)

b. Used mouthwash water

After rinsing your mouth for wudu, there is usually still a wet or cold sensation in the mouth (atsar). If this residual wetness is swallowed along with saliva, it does not invalidate the fast.

قوله: (ولا) جريه (بأثر ماء المضمضة) وإن أمكنه مجه لعسر التحرز عنه

But remember, this applies if you gargle moderately. If you gargle excessively (mubalaghah) while fasting, and the water enters your throat, then your fast is invalidated.

Summary Table of Oral & Throat Law

To make it easier to remember, here is a summary table of the laws:

FAQ: Questions About Saliva and Phlegm

That is a detailed explanation of the laws surrounding the mouth and throat during fasting. By understanding these restrictions, we no longer need to feel overly anxious or underestimate small things that can invalidate our fast.

To understand other things that invalidate fasting completely, please refer back to our main article: Things That Invalidate Fasting.

And don’t forget, fasting must also be protected from non-physical things such as sexual desire. Learn about the limits in the article on the Law of Kissing Your Spouse During Fasting.

May our fasting be accepted by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and may the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ intercede for us all.

Allah knows best.

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