What is the ruling on swallowing phlegm – may Allah honor you – during prayer?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Phlegm is pure, not impure. This is based on the prophetic tradition where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded to wipe away sputum (nukhamah) with a garment or underfoot. Had it been impure, he would not have ordered that. Furthermore, phlegm does not invalidate the prayer if a worshipper swallows it, because it is not food or drink, nor does it carry their meaning. Nevertheless, it is preferable to expel phlegm into a tissue or similar and not to swallow it, because it is considered repulsive.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/11392
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 11392
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy