Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Rinsing the mouth is required in Ghusl for the Hanafis and required in both wudu and ghusl for the Hanbalis (if I am correct). I remember that a Sheikh mentioned the way of taqwa for Indo-Pakistani Hanafis was rather than have their cavities filled that they would have their teeth removed in order to comply with this requirement. I also remember reading in Endless Bliss (the English translation of the Turkish text) that Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad all agree about the invalidity of the ghusl for those whose teeth have been filled. The book recommends either applying the Shafi’i or Maliki position or having the teeth removed and wearing false teeth. It seems that if this position of the Hanafis is correct, this would pose a problem for many of us from the West who usually have had their teeth filled. Please comment.
Walaikum assalam,
When new issues come up, major scholars are needed who have expertise in the madhhab, its rulings and methodology. Imam Ashraf Ali Thanvi was one of the very greatest Hanafi faqih of the 20th Century. A read through his brilliant 6-volume fatwa collection, in Urdu, Imdad al-Fatawa, would explain why.
In the first volume, he discusses the issue of tooth fillings, and other similar situations where it is either extremely difficult or impossible to make the water reach the areas that need to be washed (such as in the case of fillings). After presenting textual proofs from the school to back his point, he answers that in such cases because of the undue hardship involved, it is no longer required to wash such areas.
Therefore, the ghusl of someone with tooth fillings is valid in the Hanafi school, without any shadow of doubt.
As an aside, there are many strange fiqhi rulings in Endless Bliss. I would not advise taking fiqh from it.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.