Do I Have To Make a Qadha of Fasts During Which I Swallowed Phlegm?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question 

I used to think that swallowing phlegm or mucus that enters the back of the mouth does not break the fast. Consequently, I have come to understand that the Shafi‘i position is that it does break the fast.

Do I need to make qadha for the fasts during which I swallowed phlegm?

Answer

No, making qadha of the fasts during which you swallowed phlegm is unnecessary.

The Shafi‘i Position

The relied-upon (mu‘tamad) opinion in the Shafi‘i school of thought is that if a person can remove and spit out phlegm, they should do so. Failure to do so, allowing the phlegm to reach a cavity, would break their fast. [Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin]

The alternate well-substantiated view is that swallowing the phlegm does not break the fast. [Khatib, Mughni al-Muhtaj] I advise you to adopt this view as it is easier and will prevent misgivings.

For more on adopting a minority view in the Shafi‘i school of thought, check this:
Can I Follow a Minority Poisition in the Shafi’s School of Thought

I pray this is of benefit and Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life. 

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.