Does Swallowing One's Own Saliva Invalidate a Fast?

During the observance of Ramadan, there are always simple, yet important, questions. Although seemingly trivial, these questions often concern the validity of the fast.

One such simple question is: ‘Does swallowing one’s own saliva invalidate the fast?’ Although it may seem insignificant, this question manages to make most people doubt and worry.

Saliva is a thin, clear fluid produced by the salivary glands in the mouth. It consists of 99.5% water, proteins, enzymes, and minerals. Its functions include moistening the mouth, aiding in swallowing, maintaining oral hygiene, and fighting bacteria. Each person produces at least 0.5-2 litres of saliva per day.

So, does swallowing saliva invalidate the fast? The answer is NO, if the saliva comes from within the mouth. This is also explained in al-Majmu Syarah al-Muhadzdzab (Volume 6, page 341) by Imam an-Nawawi.

“Swallowing saliva does not invalidate the fast, according to the consensus of scholars. This applies if the person who is fasting normally produces saliva. Because it is difficult to prevent saliva from re-entering the mouth.”

However, this provision has limitations. There are 3 conditions that must be met for saliva not to invalidate the fast.

• The saliva must not be mixed with other substances, such as blood from a wound on the gums.

• The saliva must not have left the outer part of the lips.

• The saliva must not be deliberately collected to accumulate before being swallowed. However, some argue that if this action is unintentional, it will not invalidate the fast.