Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Yes, there is a Hadith about the smell from the mouth of a fasting person. The Hadith states that, ‘the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah (Most High) than the fragrance of musk.’
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ المِسْكِ
Abu Huraira (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for me and I shall reward it. By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad ﷺ, the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah (Most High) than the fragrance of musk.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 7492).
Obviously this Hadith cannot be taken literally. However, the Hadith does allude to the fact that the inevitable change in the smell coming from a person’s mouth when he is fasting is not something to be worried about. Rather it has acceptance with Allah Most High. Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni clarifies this in his commentary of the Hadith.
قَوْله: (أطيب) قيل: الأطيبية لَا تتَصَوَّر بِالنِّسْبَةِ إِلَى الله تَعَالَى إِذْ هُوَ منزه عَن أَمْثَاله. وَأجِيب: بِأَن الطّيب مُسْتَلْزم للقبول، أَي: خلوفه أقبل عِنْد الله من قبُول ريح الْمسك عنْدكُمْ
His saying: More fragrant (with Allah Most High). It has been said that being more flagrant is not conceivable regarding Allah Most High, because he is transcendent above such matters. It is answered by saying, more flagrant (Atyab) relates to acceptance. Therefore, the smell is more acceptable with Allah (Most High) than the scent of musk is with you. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni, Umdatu al-Qari).
Having said this, it does not mean that a person who is fasting should pay no attention to oral hygiene. Rather being attentive to oral hygiene is a very important Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, a person who intends to fast should clean the mouth thoroughly before Fajr starts. Whilst fasting one is permitted to clean the mouth with a tooth-stick (Siwak), see the link below for details.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (12.04.2022)
See also:
Is it permitted to use Miswaak (a tooth-stick) whilst fasting?
Is it permitted to brush the teeth whilst fasting?
See also video:
