Is vomit impure?

16-5-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu alaikum, is the vomit of an infant pure or impure? Some infants often throw up when they lie on the floor, bed, couch etc. sometimes more and sometimes less. Likewise they often get some vomit on their clothing, neck and so on and then it touches the place where they lie. Do you have to clean these places? Jazakum Allahu khayran.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars differed in opinion in regard to vomit whether or not it is impure; the majority of the scholars are of the view that it is impure while the Maaliki School of jurisprudence is of the view that vomit is not impure unless it comes out while its state is different from the state of food; this opinion is considerable and it is a way of removing difficulty and hardship.

However, some scholars are of the view that it is pure and not impure and this is the view chosen by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen who was questioned as to whether the vomit is pure or impure and he answered saying: “Vomit is not impure whether it is from a young or old person.” Besides, little vomit is something that is pardoned.

On the other hand, if one wants to pray, he has to clean his clothes from impurity and to clean the ground or the furniture from impurity if he wants to pray on them, so you should know that the matter is easy. If the vomit is small in quantity, then this does not harm; the same thing applies if its state has not changed from the state of food, as it does not harm according to the Maaliki School of jurisprudence. However, if the vomit is large in quantity and its state is different from that of food, then it is better in order to be on the safe side to clean one's clothes or place from it if one wants to pray.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83729.

Allaah Knows best.