Is vomit considered impure, and does its ruling differ between an infant and an adult man?
Vomit is food that has come out after settling in the stomach, and it has two states:
1. If it comes out of the stomach altered (in taste, color, or smell): This is impure by the agreement of the majority of scholars, both early and late, and it is the opinion of the four madhhabs. Their argument is based on analogy with feces, because it has transformed into corruption. 2. If it comes out in the form of unaltered food: The majority of scholars also consider it impure, while the Malikis hold it to be pure in this state. This is the view preferred by some scholars because it has not yet undergone transformation in the stomach. Based on this, if an infant's vomit is altered (like yellowish milk with a changed odor), it is impure. If its description has not changed (like milk regurgitated immediately after nursing), it is pure.
As for the child's saliva after vomiting, some jurists have excused it due to hardship, while others have stated that its saliva purifies its mouth out of necessity, by analogy with a cat's saliva.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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