Nose Rinsing in Ghusl and Its Effect on Fasting
Question
New Revert โ Is this Invalidating my Fasts? Assalamu โalaykum, I have been Muslim a few months now and this is my first Ramadan. Iโve been advised to stick a madhab for simplicity so if you could kindly answer based on the Hanafi madhab. When making ghusl, how far must I sniff water up my nose? I see terms such as hard bone, soft bone but nobody clarifies what they actually mean. If you could please explain it simply i.e., how many centimetres up my nostrils must it travel Sometimes (even when sniffing gently), some of the water travels up my sinuses and then enters my mouth. I of course spit the water out, but does this movement break my fast? Sometimes when the above happens, I feel some water touch the back of my throat, again I donโt swallow it. Does this break my fast? Jazakallah, Layla
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedWalekumussalam,
(1) In Hanafi fiqh, you only need to wash the soft inner part of the nostril, not the deep upper hard area.
simple measurement:
About 1โ2 centimetres inside the nostril (the part that is soft and easy for water to reach).
You do not need to pull water deep up into the sinuses.
Reference :
โููุฑุถู ุงูู ุถู ุถุฉ ูุงูุงุณุชูุดุงูโ
Al-Hidayah
Translation:
โIts obligations (of ghusl) are rinsing the mouth and taking water into the nose.โ
(2) If water accidentally reaches the back of the throat but you do not swallow it, your fast is still valid.
The fast only breaks if someone intentionally swallows it.
Reference :
โุฅุฐุง ูุตู ุงูู ุงุก ุฅูู ุญููู ุจุบูุฑ ุงุฎุชูุงุฑู ูุง ููุทุฑโ
Bada'i al-Sana'i
Translation :
โIf water reaches his throat without his choice, he does not break the fast.โ
May Allah make your journey in Islam easy for you, accept your fasting and worship, increase you in knowledge and confidence, and keep your heart firm upon the truth. Ameen.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
February 21, 2026
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