Why the breath of a fasting person smells of musk
In addition to the virtues of the month of fasting and the virtue of fasting, those who perform fasting are given special privileges or virtues by Allah SWT.
KH Jeje Zaenudin in his book ‘About the Problem of Fasting, I’tikaf Lailatul Qadar, and Lebaran’ explains that one of the privileges of fasting people is that the breath of fasting people smells better than musk oil.
He quotes the following hadith of the Prophet Muhammad:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ له، إِلَّا الصِّيَامَ، هو لي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي به فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بيَدِهِ، لَخُلْفَةُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ، أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِن رِيحِ المِسْكِ.
From Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah SAW said. “All the deeds of the Son of Adam belong to him except fasting, because fasting is mine and I will repay him. And indeed the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter in the sight of Allah than musk oil.”.
Kiai Jeje explained, that as a consequence of fasting, the stomach is empty during the day, causing unpleasant odors for people who are fasting.
But the unpleasant odor that comes out of the mouth of a fasting person, which may be considered bad by a person who is not fasting, is better and more fragrant in the sight of Allah SWT than the smell of musk oil.
First, if a person gives charity with musk perfume which is very famous for its fragrance, it will not match the reward and glory of fasting people even though he causes a bad smell from his mouth.
Second, Allah SWT will replace the bad breath of the fasting person in this world with a reward in the hereafter in the form of a fragrance that is more fragrant than musk oil.
Third, Allah SWT will glorify and be pleased with the fasting person so that his name will be remembered well during his life in this world and the hereafter will be rewarded with a perfumed body in heaven.
Fourth, bad breath caused by fasting brings pleasure and reward from Allah SWT. That is why some scholars have forbidden siwak by using perfume for fasting people.
In addition, according to health experts, during fasting, there is a process of cleaning dirt and toxins from the body of the fasting person. The early days of fasting are the most difficult phase.
“The body will excrete large amounts of toxins through the bloodstream, pores, and other excretory organs,” wrote Kiai Jeje.
This can be seen from the thickened layer of the tongue and breath which is usually smellier in the first days. After the fast continues for the following days, the body’s cleansing process is perfected. Body fat that is not useful and toxins that have accumulated in the body’s cells will be removed.
“Sick cells, dead cells, thickened mucus layer on the intestinal wall, bloodstream waste is excreted through the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The body will use essential minerals and vitamins to get rid of toxins and old tissue,” he said.
When the body’s toxic load is reduced, the efficiency of each cell is increased. This speeds up the healing process and saves energy at the same time.
