Fasting in the month of Ramadan is highly virtuous. It is included in the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for all adult Muslim men and women. Fasting was made obligatory directly through the Quranic verses, such as the 183rd verse of Surah Al-Baqarah.
Translation
O believers, fasting is enjoined on you as it was on those before you, so that you might become righteous.
In general, the fast in Islam refers to abstinence from eating and drinking from dawn (the start of timings of Fajr prayer) to sunset (the start of timings of Maghrib prayer), though it also has some other restrictions. Like any other worship, fasting in Ramadan also has norms and parameters, especially eating before dawn (popularly called Sahoor) and breaking fast at the time of sunset (popularly called Aftar). Islamic teachings have particularly defined what is allowed during fasting and what is prohibited. Similarly, the acts or happenings that invalidate the fast and those that do not invalidate it are also clearly defined by scholars, taking guidance from the Quran and Sunnah. Despite all the basic permissions and prohibitions during fasting, many Muslims get confused about some happenings and are not sure whether their fast still holds or has been invalidated.
In this context, a very popularly raised query is “Does vomiting break your fast in Ramadan/” In this guide, we will explore a precise answer to this important question.
What Is Vomiting?
Before trying to find the correct answer to the question “Does vomiting break your fast in Ramadan?”, it is appropriate to understand what vomiting is and why it happens.
In medical science, vomiting refers to a natural but protective reflex that forces the body to expel harmful material or substances from the stomach or digestive tract as a natural and physical safety measure. Vomiting is quite a common occurrence, often associated with indigestion, but it is not a disease in itself; instead, it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. More importantly, indigestion is not the only reason behind vomiting.
What Causes Vomiting?
While there might be several reasons that force the body to vomit, some of the more relevant and common causes are summarized below:
- Viral Gastroenteritis, commonly known as “Stomach Flu.”
- Food poisoning.
- Motion Sickness.
- Morning Sickness during pregnancy.
- Side Effects of some medicines.
- Headaches, more commonly Migraine
- Digestive Diseases, such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Indigestion.
- Emotional Stress or Fear.
- Excessive consumption of Alcohol.
- Some more serious medical conditions, such as appendicitis, brain tumors, head injuries, etc.
Hence, from a medical point of view, it can be understood that:
- Vomiting is not a disease; it is a symptom of underlying diseases.
- Vomiting is a natural protective phenomenon that ensures the expulsion of harmful substances from the human body, especially the digestive tract.
- Since it is a natural protection for the body, it must be allowed to happen in a natural way and should not be avoided because it may cause serious damage.
Does Vomiting Break Your Fast In Ramadan?
The Islamic ruling on this important question is primarily based on a famous Hadith, as appears at number 2380 in Sunan Abi Dawood:
Translation
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ” If one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally, he must make atonement.
Hadith 720 of Jami Tirmidhi also narrates the same subject in the following words:
Translation
Whoever is overcome by vomiting, then he is not required to make up (the fast), and whoever vomits on purpose, then he must make it up.
Hence, on the basis of the above authentic Hadiths, the precise answer to the question is that:
- If vomiting happens unintentionally or accidentally, it does not break the fast.
- If vomiting happens intentionally, purposely, or deliberately, it breaks the fast.
What is Meant By Unintentional Vomiting?
As discussed above, vomiting is a natural process of protecting the human digestive system from harmful substances. So, vomiting is sometimes an essential requirement of the body to ensure the expulsion of harmful substances from the digestive tract. In these circumstances, the body forcefully expels such substances from the stomach, which results in unintentional vomiting. It means vomiting was a necessity and was not an optional happening.
Moreover, as per medical science, if the patient tries to avoid vomiting by physical effort, it may result in serious health conditions, such as choking of the respiratory system, which may lead to death. That’s why forcefully preventing the vomit from coming out of the body is not recommended by medical science, and that is the logic behind the ruling that in such an eventuality, fast remains intact and does not break.
What is Meant By Intentional or Deliberate Vomiting?
Intentional or deliberate vomiting is an act on the part of an individual that leads to vomiting, such as putting a finger into the throat. Sometimes, an individual deliberately induces vomiting for some reason or even without any reason. All such happenings come under the definition of “deliberate or intentional vomiting.”
Since these are the optional acts of a person and, more importantly, they were not compelled to do so due to any medical or physical disorder, any vomit in this case would be termed intentional. That’s why the Islamic ruling on this type of vomiting is clearly “intentional vomiting breaks the fast.”
Hence, the fast broken due to intentional vomiting needs to be repeated after Ramadan. However, the scholarly opinion in this case is “if fast was broken due to intentional vomiting, only making it up after Ramadan is required, and no expiation (kaffara) is required”.
What Happens if Vomit Comes Back Into The Mouth?
A very common scenario in the event of vomiting, especially when the individual tries to avoid it, is that the vomit is swallowed back into the stomach. Whether it breaks the fast or not is yet another very important question.
According to scholars:
- If vomit reaches the mouth and the individual swallows it back, intentionally, the fast becomes invalid (it breaks the fast).
- If vomit was swallowed unintentionally or the individual is unable to avoid it from going back into the mouth, it does not break their fast (the fast remains valid).
IMPORTANT
The major factor in all scenarios is the intention of the individual. If done intentionally, it breaks the fast; if it happens unintentionally, it does not break the fast.
What to Do After Vomiting Happens During Fasting?
- Clean the mouth with water to remove the residual taste of vomiting. But ensure that water does not enter the throat.
- If vomiting was unintentional, it does not break the fast. In this case, continue fasting as per normal routine.
- Ensure not to swallow the residues of vomiting intentionally. Thoroughly rinse the mouth.
- If vomiting were due to some sickness, it may exhaust the body. In this scenario, take rest to preserve energy, to complete the fast.
Difference of Opinion Across Fiqh
Although all the schools of thought agree that unintentional vomiting does not break the fast, there are slight differences in their detailed rulings, which are summarized as follows:
· Hanafi Fiqh
- Unintentional vomiting does not break the fast.
- Intentional vomiting breaks the fast if it is mouthful
· Maliki Fiqh
- Unintentional vomiting does not break the fast, but if swallowed back deliberately, it will break the fast.
- Intentional vomiting breaks the fast.
· Shafi’i Fiqh
- Unintentional vomiting does not break the fast.
- Intentional vomiting breaks the fast.
· Hanbali Fiqh
- Deliberate vomiting breaks the fast.
- Accidental or unintentional vomiting does not break the fast.
Best Practices to Avoid Vomiting During Fasting
- Avoid overeating during Sahoor and Aftar.
- Try to take light and balanced meals.
- Drink water sufficiently, especially during the night, to keep yourself well-hydrated.
- Avoid fried, spicy, and oil-rich foods.
- Avoid overexercising during the fasting hours.
FAQs
- Does accidental vomiting break the fast in Ramadan?
No, unintentional or accidental vomiting does not break the fast. Fast remains valid, and no need to make up.
- Does deliberate vomiting break the fast?
Yes, Intentional or deliberate vomiting breaks the fast and needs to be made up after Ramadan.
- Should I continue fasting after vomiting?
Yes, if vomiting was unintentional, your fast remains valid and you must continue it as per routine, till sunset. But if vomiting was intentional, your fast stands invalid, and you must make it up after Ramadan.
- Does nausea without vomiting break the fast?
No, nausea without vomiting does not affect the fast, and you must continue fasting normally.
- Is expiation (kaffarah) required for intentional acts?
Although intentional vomiting breaks the fast, the ruling is that it does not require kaffarah; only one has to make it up after Ramadan.
Conclusion
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory for all adult Muslim men and women. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is widely practiced across the Muslim World with religious passion. Since it requires abstinence from eating and drinking during the fasting hours, Muslims are very cautious about maintaining their fast, strictly per the Islamic teachings. While avoiding eating or drinking during the fast is well-understood by the people, sometimes they feel confused about some happenings, wondering whether it has affected their fast or not.
Vomiting is one such happening. The Islamic teachings are quite clear on this subject that if vomiting is intentional, it breaks the fast. But if vomiting was accidental or unintentional, it does not break the fast, and in such an eventuality, you need to continue fasting as per normal practice. However, if vomiting was deliberate or intentional, your fast becomes invalid and needs to be made up after Ramadan, but it does not require kaffarah (expiation).
