Is it Sunnah to rinse the mouth after drinking milk?
Answer
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) drank milk and and then [called for water] and rinsed his mouth, saying, “It has fat in it.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 211 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 358)
‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) states that this Hadith proves that it is Mustahab (desirable) to rinse the mouth after drinking milk. Hafiz Ibn Hajar adds that it is Mustahab to rinse the mouth after consuming anything creamy/fatty.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar further explains, that this should not be considered binding for there are narrations which state that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not rinse his mouth after drinking milk.
(Refer: Al Minhaj of ‘Allamah Nawawi, Hadith: 796 and Fathul Bari, Hadith: 211)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar, with the following summary:
Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Al-Kandehlawi (rahimahullah) states that according to Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah), the sunnah of rinsing the mouth applies after drinking (creamy) milk that leaves a fatty residue. The instances in which Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) is reported not to have rinsed his mouth apply to occasions when the milk was diluted and did not carry any residue.
(Taqrir Bukhari, part.2 pg.59-60)
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar