Ruling On Rinsing The Mouth And Sniffing Water Up The Nose While Fasting

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam say about the following matter: if ghusl becomes farḍ due to nocturnal emission while fasting, is it necessary to ensure that water reaches the soft part of the nasal bone? Likewise, what is the ruling on sniffing water up the nose during wuḍū?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   To rinse the mouth (washing the inner part of the mouth thoroughly) and to wash the soft part of both nostrils (the soft part ends before the hard nasal bone begins) are the two important Fard (obligations) of ghusl. They are both muʿakkadah sunnahs in wuḍū. There is no distinction between a fasting and non-fasting person in this regard.

   However, if one is not fasting, it is exclusively both sunnah and a mustahabb (recommended) act to exaggerate when fulfilling the aforementioned actions. Exaggerating when rinsing the mouth refers to gargling whilst carrying out this action, i.e. water should be made to reach the edge of the throat and swirled thoroughly. Exaggerating when sniffing water up the nose refers to inhaling the water using the breath and making it reach beyond the soft part, until the root of the nasal bone.

   As for the fasting person, it is disliked (makrūh) for him to adopt the method described above when rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose, as hadith exempt a fasting person from the ruling of exaggerating. Moreover, just a small lack of cautiousness in this regard can lead to the fast becoming invalid. That is to say, a fasting person should not gargle, as there is a chance of water passing down the throat. If this happens, the fast will be nullified. Similarly, water should not be sniffed to make it reach the root of the nasal bone as merely a little inattentiveness could lead to the water reaching the brain, which will also nullify the fast.

   It is stated in Tanwīr al-Abṣār and al-Durr al-Mukhtār,

 (وفرض الغسل،غسل)کل(فمہ)۔۔۔(وانفہ) حتی ما تحت الدرن(و)باقی(بدنہ) “ (ملتقطاً)

“The Faraid (obligations) of wuḍū are to wash the entire inner part of the mouth, and the nose to the extent that the area beneath the solidified mucus is washed too, as well as the rest of the body.”[1]

   It is mentioned in Marāqi al-Falāḥ Sharḥ Nūr al-Iḍāḥ:

(و)یسن( المبالغۃ فی المضمضۃ )وھو ایصال الماء لراس الحلق(و)المبالغۃ فی(الاستنشاق )وھی ایصالہ الی فوق المارن (لغیر الصائم )والصائم لا یبالغ فیھما خشیۃ افساد الصوم۔لقولہ علیہ الصلاۃ والسلام”بالغ فی المضمضۃ والاستنشاق الا ان تکون صائما

   Exaggerating when rinsing the mouth i.e. making water reach the edge of the throat, and exaggerating when sniffing water up the nose i.e. making water reach beyond the soft part of the nasal bone, is sunnah for that person who is not fasting. The fasting person will not exaggerate due to the danger of these two things nullifying the fast, as per this saying of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, ‘Exaggerate when rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose, except when you are fasting.’

   ʿAllāmah Sayyid Aḥmad Ṭaḥṭāwi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes in the commentary of this text, قولہ(والمبالغۃ ) فیھما ھی سنۃ فی الطھارتین علی المعتمد “According to the relied upon opinion, rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose is sunnah in both wuḍū and ghusl.”[2]

   Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes in Fatāwa Razawiyyah:

   Washing the soft part in both nostrils i.e. washing up until the start of the hard part of the nasal bone (is Fard (obligatory) in ghusl), and this is only possible if one takes some water and sniffs it until it reaches there. People are utterly careless in this regard and only make water touch the tip of the nose after which it separates, let alone washing the entire soft part of the nasal bone. It is obvious that water naturally flows downwards. Without sniffing, it does not rise. Let alone the public, sadly even some educated people are embroiled in this. If only they paid attention to the linguistic meaning of istinshāq, they would not fall prey to this calamity. Istinshāq refers to inhaling something into the nose via the breath - not simply touching the tip of the nose.

   Omitting this consistently in wuḍū will lead to the sin of abandoning a sunnah only, as maḍmaḍah (rinsing the mouth) and istinshāq as per the definitions above are sunnah muʿakkadah. Although leaving a sunnah muʿakkadah occasionally is not a sin and instead warrants censure, abandoning it frequently will undoubtedly cause one to become a sinner. In any case wuḍū shall still be completed, but ghusl will not be considered complete until the entire mouth till the throat and the soft part of the nose up to the hard nasal bone is washed. Scholars even say if there is solidified mucus in the nose, it is necessary to first remove it. If the water does not pass underneath it, ghusl will be invalid. Not even a fasting person is exempt from this precaution. However, he is not to exceed this lest water reaches the brain, but this is still a sunnah for a non-fasting person.

   It is mentioned in al-Durr al-Mukhtār, سننہ المبالغۃ بمجاوزۃ المارن لغیر الصائم - “It is also from the sunnah of ghusl for a non-fasting person to exaggerate when making water reach the area beyond the soft part of the nasal bone.”

   Elucidating upon this issue, the great imam further said, “It is farḍ in ghusl to make water reach every portion of the mouth until the throat, and to sniff water up the nostrils until the start of the hard nasal bone. These are sunnah muʿakkadah in wuḍū.”[3]

   In the scenario that was asked about, one will have to fulfil the 3 Fard (obligatory) actions of ghusl. Meaning, it will remain obligatory to make water flow properly over the entire body, rinse the mouth and make water reach the entire internal soft part of the nose. If this is not done, major ritual impurity will not be removed. A person in this state cannot enter the masjid or offer salah, as this would be impermissible and sinful. It is farḍ to repeat all salah offered in this state.

Warning

   In the blessed month of Ramaḍān, some are seen saying the following: “When fasting, the act of rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose whilst doing farḍ ghusl will be carried out after sunset, otherwise the fast will break.” Just a few days ago, it was related regarding an imam of a masjid who told attendees, “If ghusl becomes farḍ while fasting, it will be valid even if water does not reach the soft part of the nasal bone.” When people persisted in seeking clarification, he continued to say, “It is not necessary for a fasting person to sniff water up the nose during farḍ ghusl.” اَلْاَمَان وَالْحَفِیْظ

   The aforementioned two views indicate unawareness of true Islamic teachings and ignorance. The outcome of relating these incorrect rulings will manifest in the public performing farḍ ghusl in said manner and becoming content after offering salah that both the fast and salah are fulfilled. Whereas due to farḍ ghusl not being valid, all salah offered will be considered invalid and will have to be atoned for.

   Remember that it is obligatory for every Muslim to learn necessary Islamic rulings as per their situation. In comparison to the public, people who are from a religious fraternity and especially imams of masjids are even more obligated to know the correct positions of such necessary rulings, as the public often ask them questions regarding their daily life. Upon receiving the answers, they act accordingly. If an incorrect answer is given, the repercussions will be severe .People will act upon it and fall into sin, but the burden of sin will also fall upon the shoulders of the imam, who answered according to his own assumption. Strong condemnation regarding this act has been mentioned in a hadith narrated by sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, found in Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ and extracted from Abū Dawūd.

   The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, من أفتي بغير علم كان إثمه على من أفتاه “Whoever was given a legal verdict (fatwā) without knowledge, its sin will fall upon the one who issued the verdict.”[4]

   It is narrated in al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr on the authority of sayyidunā ʿAli کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم, من افتی بغیر علم لعنتہ ملائکۃ السماء والارض “Whoever gave a religious verdict without knowledge is cursed by the angels of the sky and earth.”[5]

   Hence, repentance is necessary for those people who, based on their foolishness and lack of knowledge regarding Islamic rulings, have been informing the public that 1) the act of rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose while doing   farḍ ghusl in a state of fast, will be carried out after sunset or the fast will break; and 2) it is not obligatory on those fasting to sniff water up the nose during   farḍ ghusl. They must also make the public aware of the correct rulings and acquire knowledge from erudite Sunni scholars and muftis. As long as they have not gained proficiency in Islamic knowledge, they must refrain from mentioning religious rulings.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم