Law of Vomit When Fasting While Pregnant

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

When we do Ramadhan fasting, we are commanded to control ourselves from everything that can break our fasting until the break fast time comes.

وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتّىَ يَتَبَيّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمّ أَتِمّواْ الصّيَامَ إِلَى الّليْلِ

“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset.” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah : 187)

Besides eat and drink intentionally, one thing that can break the fast is vomit. But, how is the law of vomit when fasting while pregnant?

Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam has explained this matter before. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said :

من ذرعه قيء وهو صائم فليس عليه قضاء وإن استقاء فليقض

“Whoever vomit accidentally when he is fasting, then there is no qadla for him, and whoever vomit intentionally, then he must qadla (his fasting).” (Narrated by Abu Dawud number 2380, At-Tirmidzi number 720, Ibn Majah number 1676 and Ahmad 2/498; This is a lafadh of Abu Dawud. See The Shahih Sunan Abu Dawud 2/63).

Pregnant women especially those who still in the first trimester, often vomit. They vomit because they feel nauseous. It is caused because there is a change in their hormone.

For pregnant women who fast and they vomit intentionally, then their fasting do not break. But if the vomit is swallowed again, there are some different opinion from Ulama.

It is narrated by Malik rahimahullah, he said, “Whoever vomit, and the vomit in his mouth is swallowed again, then he does not qadla his Ramadhan fasting. Ibn Qosim said, “Malik corrected (his opinion) and said,

“If he can go to the place that he can vomit, but the vomit is swallowed again (to his stomach), then he must qadla it. Syekh Abul Qosim said, “If it is swallowed after it is looked in his mouth, then he must qadla the fasting. If it is swallowed before it reaches the mouth, then it is no problem.

In the book of Al-Inshaf, it is said,

“If the vomit has gone out in his mouth and it is swallowed by him, then his fast breaks. That matter is firmed by Imam Ahmad, although (that vomit) is a little bit. Because he can keep it (so it is not swallowed again).”

Because of that, if the vomit has reached the mouth, it should be released. But it is no problem, if you swallow it intentionally.

There are some ways that can be done to prevent vomit when fasting while pregnant, such as :

Decrease a fatty diet when suhur

A fatty diet when suhur can cause your stomach difficult to digest the food. The stomach also becomes fullness and it results a lot of gas. This gas can cause nausea and finally you will vomit.

Drink a glass of ginger tea

It is be better, if a pregnant woman who fast, drink a glass of ginger tea 30 minutes after suhur. It can make her stomach more relax and it can prevent vomit. The contents of ginger can decrease the nausea of pregnant women. [AdSense-B]

Do not sleep after suhur

One of bad habits from a pregnant woman is too many sleep, even she can sleep after eating. It causes the food back to the throat and she feels nausea. This habit can also increase the gastric acid and it exacerbates the nausea. Sleep one hour after eating, so your stomach can work well. [AdSense-A]

Get some rest

The amount of break time is very important for a pregnant woman who fast. By getting some rest, the metabolism of her body will always work well and the production of breast milk will also launch. Get some rest at least six or eight hours in a day.

Multiply to drink water

Maybe it is looked like unimportant, but the amount of water that enter to our body will influence the amount of breast milk. Fasting for nursing mothers can cause dehydration, so they need many liquids. Drink at least eight glass of water every day, so your body will keep hydrated well.

Drink breast milk supplements

Everybody has different ability to produce breast milk. For them who can result a lot of breast milk, they can consume breast milk supplements. So their production is good. Drink it when suhur and break fast, so your baby keep feeding although you are fasting.

But there is no pressure for nursing mothers to fast in the month of Ramadhan. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has given ease for nursing mothers to change their fasting in another days. As the word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala :

وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ

“And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.” (Q.S. Al-Hajj : 78)

أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

“[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah : 184)

The Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa sallam said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَضَعَ عَنِ الْمُسَافِرِ شَطْرَ الصَّلاَةِ وَعَنِ الْمُسَافِرِ وَالْحَامِلِ وَالْمُرْضِعِ الصَّوْمَ أَوِ الصِّيَامَ

“Indeed Allah ‘azza wa jalla loses a half of traveler’s prayer. Allah also loses the fasting of travelers, pregnant women and nursing mothers.” (Narrated by Ahmad Syaikh Syu’aib Al Arnauth said that this hadith is hasan)

From those two hadith, it has been clear that nursing mothers get ease in Ramadhan fasting and they can change their fasting in another days.

But there are some different opinions from Ulama about the replacement of fasting for nursing mothers. The first group argued that nursing mothers who do not fast in Ramadhan must pay fidyah without changing their fasting in another days.

While the second opinion said that nursing mothers are allowed to do not fast and they must pay fidyah and qadla their fasting. If they are afraid about their children then they must qadla and give some food to poor people as much as they leave their fasting. Imam Syafi’i from Imam Ahmad chose this opinion. Al-Jassos stated that this is the opinion of Ibn Umar ra.

The third opinion said that nursing mothers must qadla their fasting because their position are as same as the sick person who can heal and fast again.

Thus the explanation about law of vomit when fasting while pregnant. Hopefully, this article is useful for you all. Thank you.