What is the ruling on applying kohl, and likewise using the miswak and a toothbrush, for a person who is fasting?
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The questioner : He asks about applying kohl while a person is fasting, and likewise using the miswak and a toothbrush. I hope you will provide information on this?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
Applying kohl for a fasting person is permissible, and there is no harm in it. This is because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, only forbade eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse for the fasting person in His saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:187].
Likewise, the Sunnah came with other matters, but this is not the place to mention them. So there is no harm for the fasting person to apply kohl, and it does not harm him, even if he finds the taste of the kohl in his throat, according to the stronger opinion chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). This is because the presence of the taste of kohl in the throat is not covered by the wording of eating and drinking, nor by its meaning, so it is not prohibited.
As for using the miswak for a fasting person, it is also permissible, whether that is before the sun reaches its zenith or after the sun reaches its zenith, according to the stronger opinion among the opinions of the scholars. This is due to the generality of the evidence indicating the recommendation of using the miswak in general or in specific circumstances. Among this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 5Sahih (Darussalam) and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 47Sahih (Al-Albani) This is general and includes the fasting person and others.
However, if the miswak has a taste, such as a new miswak that has a taste, he must not swallow this taste, but rather spit it out so that he does not send food into his stomach.
As for the toothbrush, which is using the known toothpaste, what I see is that it is better to leave it, because this paste has a strong spreading power, and it is feared that it will spread into his stomach while he is not aware of it. But if he does it, there is no blame on him, for he does not commit a sin. Even if something seeps into his stomach without his choice, there is nothing wrong with it, meaning it does not break his fast. But it is better, as I said, not to use this toothbrush, and it is sufficient for him to use it after breaking the fast.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
Applying kohl for a fasting person is permissible, and there is no harm in it. This is because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, only forbade eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse for the fasting person in His saying:
So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset.
فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِLikewise, the Sunnah came with other matters, but this is not the place to mention them. So there is no harm for the fasting person to apply kohl, and it does not harm him, even if he finds the taste of the kohl in his throat, according to the stronger opinion chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). This is because the presence of the taste of kohl in the throat is not covered by the wording of eating and drinking, nor by its meaning, so it is not prohibited.
As for using the miswak for a fasting person, it is also permissible, whether that is before the sun reaches its zenith or after the sun reaches its zenith, according to the stronger opinion among the opinions of the scholars. This is due to the generality of the evidence indicating the recommendation of using the miswak in general or in specific circumstances. Among this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.
السواك مطهرة للفم مرضاة للربWere it not hard on my ummah, I would order them to use the tooth-stick at the time of every prayer.
لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاةHowever, if the miswak has a taste, such as a new miswak that has a taste, he must not swallow this taste, but rather spit it out so that he does not send food into his stomach.
As for the toothbrush, which is using the known toothpaste, what I see is that it is better to leave it, because this paste has a strong spreading power, and it is feared that it will spread into his stomach while he is not aware of it. But if he does it, there is no blame on him, for he does not commit a sin. Even if something seeps into his stomach without his choice, there is nothing wrong with it, meaning it does not break his fast. But it is better, as I said, not to use this toothbrush, and it is sufficient for him to use it after breaking the fast.