The Effect of Swallowing Phlegm on Fasting

Question:
The questioner asks: Does phlegm, may Allah keep you safe, break the fast, especially when it comes on suddenly, either during prayer or otherwise, and especially when there is nothing to wipe it on, so one is forced to swallow it? Does that affect the fast?

Answer:
Yes, it is phlegm that a person may be afflicted with, but he spits it out; he does not swallow it. If it reaches his mouth and he then swallows it back, if it reaches his mouth and he intentionally swallows it back, that invalidates his fast. However, if it does not reach his mouth and is only in his throat and comes back up, that does not break the fast. As for the claim that he finds nothing to wipe it on, that is not correct. A person wears a shemagh, he wears a ghutrah, he wears clothes, so he is able to wipe it on his garment, on his shemagh, on his ghutrah, until he leaves the mosque, then he removes it and washes it. Yes.