Question: After completing my Fardh Ghusl and performing Salaah, I discovered a food particle stuck between my teeth - is my Salaah valid?

Answer: For the completion of Ghusl, it is necessary that water reaches the whole body (which includes the inner part of the mouth). If the food particle that was stuck between the teeth is such that it allows water to go through it, then the Ghusl will be valid. However, if the food stuck in the mouth is such that it prevents water from reaching any part of the mouth - the Ghusl will NOT be valid. Thus Salaah performed will also not be valid and has to be repeated.

Notwithstanding the above, when discovering such a food particle (which prevents water from reaching any portion of the mouth) stuck in the teeth after ghusl, one should remove it and merely wash that portion. There is no need to repeat the entire Ghusl.

وَالْعَجِينُ فِي الظُّفْرِ يَمْنَعُ تَمَامَ الِاغْتِسَالِ وَالْوَسَخُ وَالدَّرَنُ لَا يَمْنَعُ وَالْقَرَوِيُّ وَالْمَدَنِيُّ سَوَاءٌ وَالتُّرَابُ وَالطِّينُ فِي الظُّفْرِ لَا يَمْنَعُ وَالصَّرَّامُ وَالصَّبَّاغُ مَا فِي ظُفْرِهِمَا يَمْنَعُ تَمَامَ الِاغْتِسَالِ وَقِيلَ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يُجْزِيهِمْ لِلْحَرَجِ وَالضَّرُورَةِ ، وَمَوَاضِعُ الضَّرُورَةِ مُسْتَثْنَاةٌ عَنْ قَوَاعِدِ الشَّرْعِ .كَذَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ     (الفتاوي الهندية، ج ١، ص ١٣،) 

And Allah Knows Best 

Mufti Yusuf Moosagie

Daily Fiqh