Some Common Doubts and Misconceptions Affiliated with the Laws of Fasting in Ramaḍān and Their Clarification Doubt/Misconception 05: Food in the Mouth Must Be Expelled when the Aẓān Is Called to Commence the Fast When commenting on the previous Ḥadīth: “If anyone of you hears the call to prayer while having a vessel in his hand, he should not put it down until he has his fill from it,” Shaykh ʿAbd al-Muḥsin al-ʿAbbād (حفظه الله) stated: If the mu‘azzin—whom people rely upon to know the prayer times—begins to call the aẓān and a person was already drinking something, then he should finish his drink. He shouldn't, however, start to drink after the aẓān. Hastening to start to drink something upon hearing the aẓān is impermissible, since the aẓān occurs after the time for prayer enters, and eating and drinking after that time is prohibited. The fajr prayer is legislated at that time because it is the time of dawn. As for eating and drinking at that time for the one desiring to fast, then his time has expired for doing that. Therefore, if the mu‘azzin calls the aẓān and a person is drinking, he should finish his drink; however, if he didn't start to drink, then it is impermissible for him to start drinking. It is said about this issues: “What is permissible to continue doing may not necessarily be permissible to start doing” meaning, starting to drink [on the onset of dawn] is impermissible; however, if a person had already started to drink, he can finish his drink. This doesn't mean that he should expel what is in his mouth and cease from drinking; rather, he should swallow whatever was in his mouth and finish his drink, since the One Who specified the time interval for fasting is the very One Who exempted this scenario. Therefore, what is permissible to continue doing may not necessarily be permissible to start doing. Furthermore, thinking that a person can place his hand on a glass and he can begin to drink upon hearing the aẓān is a total misunderstanding of this Ḥadīth. This is impermissible. If he didn’t start to drink [before the aẓān], he shouldn't start to drink [upon hearing it]. He should fulfil his craving before the aẓān; however, if he began to drink and the muʿazzin starts to make the aẓān, then he should finish his drink. In addition, if one glass didn’t quench his thirst, taking a second glass isn't allowed, since the Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Until he has his fill from it” meaning, from the glass that was [already] in his hand. Finally, if he was drinking something, like water, then this applies. As for food, then it doesn't. ● [Ṣharḥ Sunan Abī Dawūd, vol. 13, pg. 78-79] Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) was asked: “Is expelling food that already existed in the mouth at the onset of dawn mandatory?” He (رحمه الله) said: “This is blind following what is present in some books of fiqh. There isn’t any proof for this from the Messenger’s (ﷺ) Sunnah; rather, this is in opposition to his statement: ‘If anyone of you hears the call to prayer while having a vessel in his hand, he should not put it down until he has his fill from it.’” ● [Majmūʿ Fatāwá al-Albānī, vol. 6, pg. 7]