Is My Fast Valid if the Water During Wudu Touches My Throat?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I usually gargle when rinsing my mouth during wudu, and while fasting, I forgot to avoid gargling while doing wudu, and a little water touched my throat. Is my fast still valid?

Answer

Water getting to your throat invalidates the fast. You would need to make up your fast, but an expiation (kaffara) is not necessary. When performing wudu or a ghusl during a fast, you need to gently move the water around in your mouth to fulfill the sunna/fard of that act. [Taqi Usmani, Dawabit al-Mufattirat]

It’s a good idea to ask Allah for forgiveness for this oversight. He loves to pardon and forgive, as we know from the du’a the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught ‘A’isha (May Allah be pleased with her), “O Allah, you pardon much, and you love doing so, so please pardon me.” [Bukhari]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.