Question:
Assalamu‘alaikum SS Dato’ Mufti. If some food is stuck between one’s teeth, does it invalidate his fast?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Remnants of food that got stuck in between teeth, if they are accidentally swallowed with saliva, then it does not invalidate the fast if it is hard to be removed or spit out without any negligence on his part. This is only if the amount is small. However, if the quantity of remainder of the food is a lot, then it invalidates the fasting. This is the opinion of mazhab Maliki, Syafie, Hanbali, Abu Yusuf and Zufar. This is the opinion we are inclined to.