What is the ruling on one who swallows nasal discharge while fasting, and what is the ruling on one who wakes up and finds blood with a taste in his throat?
Scholars agree that if phlegm or sputum enters the fasting person's stomach without him being able to expel it, the fast is not broken. However, if he is able to expel it but then swallows it, some scholars, like Ash-Shafi'i, hold that it breaks the fast. In contrast, Abu Hanifa, Malik, and one narration from Ahmad maintain that it does not break the fast. This latter view was preferred by Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, who justified it by stating that it did not exit the mouth and is not considered food or drink. In summary: nasal discharge from sinusitis, whether mucus or blood, does not invalidate the fast, but expelling it is preferable.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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