Complete Guide to the Fiqh of Taharah for Breastfeeding Mothers and Baby Care

Becoming a mother is an extraordinary journey of worship. However, amidst the happiness of caring for a little one, confusion often arises regarding matters of worship, especially concerning thaharah (purification). One of the most frequent questions that haunts the minds of young mothers is: “Is my clothing impure due to baby spit-up?” or “Is my prayer valid if the nipple area after breastfeeding a baby who has just vomited is not washed?”

This concern is very reasonable. In the Shafi’i school of thought, maintaining the purity of the body, clothing, and prayer area is a non-negotiable requirement for the validity of prayer. Meanwhile, babies have natural habits such as regurgitation, vomiting, or drooling that are difficult to control.

This article will thoroughly discuss Islamic fiqh law regarding the impurity of babies and the concessions (rukhsah) for breastfeeding mothers. This discussion refers directly to authoritative literature, namely the book Fathul Mu’in by Sheikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari and I’anah at-Talibin by Sayyid Bakri Syatha.

Understanding the Problem of Impurity (Najis) in Infants: Regurgitation and Vomit

Before delving into the legal solution, we need to establish the status of baby vomit. In fiqh, anything that comes out of the stomach through the mouth, if its properties (smell, taste, or color) have changed from the original food, is considered vomit (qay’). In the Shafi’i school, vomit is ruled as impure, whether it comes from an adult or a baby.

Often, people differentiate between “gumoh” (a small amount of milk regurgitated) and “muntah” (vomit – a large amount expelled). However, the fiqh parameter looks at “has it reached the stomach and changed?”. If it has, then its status is impure.

The issue arises when a baby experiences a phase of frequent vomiting or regurgitation. The baby’s mouth becomes an area that is mutanajjis (contaminated with impurity). If If this impurity-affected mouth nurses from the mother, logically according to basic fiqh, the mother’s nipple also becomes impure. Then, does the mother have to wash her nipple every time she wants to nurse again or every time she wants to pray? Of course, this would be burdensome and troublesome (masyaqqah).

This is where Islamic Sharia appears with its facilitating face, as explained in the following book references.

The Ruling on the Mother’s Nipple Coming into Contact with the Baby’s Mouth (A Study of Fathul Mu’in)

In the book Fathul Mu’in, Sheikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari quoted an important fatwa from his teacher, Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami. This fatwa is a breath of fresh air for dedicated breastfeeding mothers whose babies often experience digestive problems or reflux.

The following is the original wording from the book Fathul Mu’in:

وأفتى شيخنا أن الصبي إذا ابتلي بتتابع القئ عفي عن ثدي أمه الداخل في فيه، لا عن مقبله أو مماسه

Meaning: “And our Teacher (Ibn Hajar al-Haytami) issued a fatwa: That a baby, if tested with frequent vomiting, is excused (from impurity) regarding his mother’s nipple that enters his mouth, it is not excused regarding the part that kisses or touches the baby’s mouth.”

Important Points of This Fatwa:

1. The Condition of “Frequent Vomiting” (Tatabu’ al-Qay’i): This concession applies specifically if the baby frequently vomits. If the baby only vomits once a month, the ruling returns to the original (obligatory washing). However, because babies generally often regurgitate, this condition is usually met.
2. Area That is Pardoned (Ma’fu): Tolerance in the legal rulings regarding impurity is given only to the area of the nipple or breast that enters the baby’s mouth. This is because this area is a basic necessity (hajat) in the breastfeeding process.
3. Areas Not Forgiven: This fatwa provides a firm limitation. Other parts of the mother’s body, such as the mouth kissing the baby’s mouth (muqabbil) or hands/clothes touching the baby’s mouth (mumass) after vomiting, are not forgiven. This means that if the mother’s mouth or cheek is touched by the baby’s vomit, it is obligatory to wash it before prayer.

This ruling is based on the principle of Al-Masyaqqah Tajlib at-Taysir (Difficulty attracts ease). Obligating the mother to wash the nipples every time would hinder the breastfeeding process and torment the mother.

The Expansion of the Law Regarding the Impurity of a Baby’s Mouth (A Study of I’anah at-Talibin)

The explanation in Fathul Mu’in above was then enriched and clarified in the book I’anah at-Talibin. Sayyid Bakri Syatha quoted the background of the fatwa more completely, which opens our insight into how broad the Sharia’s tolerance is in the matter of caring for children.

In I’anah at-Talibin Volume 1 page 102 it is mentioned:

قوله: (وأفتى شيخنا أن الصبي إلخ) عبارة فتاويه: وسئل رضي الله عنه: هل يعفى عما يصيب ثدي المرضعة من ريق الرضيع المتنجس بقئ أو ابتلاع نجاسة أم لا? فأجاب رضي الله عنه: ويعفى عن فم الصغير وإن تحققت نجاسته.

Meaning: “(The Author’s statement: And our Sheikh issued a fatwa…) The wording in his collection of fatwas is: He (Ibn Hajar) radhiyallahu ‘anhu was once asked: ‘Is it excusable for impurities to come into contact with the breast of a breastfeeding mother originating from the saliva of a baby that is contaminated due to vomiting or due to swallowing an impure substance, or is it not?’ Then he answered: ‘And impurities are excused on the mouth of a young child even if its impurity is confirmed‘.”

From this text, we understand that the source of impurity is not only vomit, but can also be due to “ingesting an impure substance” (for example, a baby putting a dirty object in their mouth). The key lies in the status of the mouth of a small child.

The Basis of Evidence from Ibn As-Salah and Imam Az-Zarkashi

The book I’anah at-Talibin then strengthens this argument by quoting the opinion of other great scholars:

كما صرح به ابن الصلاح فقال: يعفى عما اتصل به شئ من أفواه الصبيان مع تحقق نجاستها. وألحق بها غيرها من أفواه المجانين. وجزم به الزركشي.

Meaning: “As affirmed by Ibn ash-Salah, he said: ‘Everything that comes into contact with the mouths of young children is excused, even if there is obvious impurity on their mouths.’ And he analogized (equated) the law regarding the mouths of young children to the mouths of the insane. And Imam az-Zarkashi has affirmed this ruling.”

Fiqh Analysis for the Daily Life of Mothers

From the references of the two books above, we can draw a common thread for daily practice:

1. Status of Saliva Mixed with Vomit: A baby’s saliva mixed with remnants of vomit/regurgitation is impure (najis). However, due to its inevitability (Umumul Balwa), the Sharia provides a status of Ma’fu ‘Anhu (excused impurity).
2. The Analogy of the Insane (Majanin): Interestingly, this book equates a baby with an insane person (majanin). The reason is the similarity in the characteristic of “lack of reason” and the inability to maintain their own oral hygiene. This shows that this law revolves around the powerlessness of the legal subject, not merely due to their status as a “baby.”
3. Peace of Mind: Mothers do not need to excessively (obsessively) check the baby’s mouth every second. If you are sure there is impurity, simply clean what is visible. Remaining traces that are not visible or difficult to remove fall into the category of ma’fu.

Summary Table of Laws: What is Impure & What is Forgiven?

To make it easier to understand, here is a classification table based on the texts Fathul Mu’in and I’anah at-Talibin:

Case / Event	Mother’s Body Area	Legal Status	Explanation Reference
Baby vomits, then immediately nurses	Nipple	Ma’fu (Forgiven)	Due to necessity (hajat) and frequent occurrence (Fathul Mu’in).
Baby vomits, then the mother/another person kisses its mouth	Mouth	Not Forgiven (Obligatory to Wash)	Kissing the baby’s mouth is not an urgent necessity (Fathul Mu’in).
Baby vomits, its hand gets covered in vomit then touches the mother’s clothes	Clothes / Garment	Not Forgiven (Obligatory to Wash)	Falls into the category of mumass (touch) in a non-essential area.
Normal baby saliva (without vomiting)	Clothes / Skin	Pure	Saliva is fundamentally pure.
It is known that there is impurity in the baby’s mouth	Objects that enter its mouth	Ma’fu	The opinion of Ibn Salah in I’anah.

Practical Worship Tips for Mothers with “Happy Spitter” Babies (Frequent Spit-Up)

Having a baby who frequently spits up is not an obstacle to maintaining the quality of prayer. Based on the evidence above, here are some practical steps that can be applied:

1. Separate Prayer Clothes from Daily Wear

Even though there is leniency, the most cautious step (ihtiyat) is to have a mukena or special prayer clothes.

• When carrying and breastfeeding, use comfortable house clothes.
• If house clothes are soiled with baby vomit or saliva that is mumass (touched by the baby’s impure hand), change them immediately before praying.
• If only the nipple is affected (during breastfeeding), you are not obliged to wash it every time you want to pray if the baby frequently vomits continuously, according to the fatwa of Ibn Hajar. However, washing it once when you have the opportunity is better.

2. Provide Wet Wipes or a Clean Cloth

According to the text of Fathul Mu’in, what is not forgiven is the “muqabbil” (the person who kisses the baby’s mouth) and the “mumass” (the one whose baby’s mouth touches something impure/dirty).

• If a baby kisses your cheek after spitting up, immediately wipe it with water or a wet wipe.
• Ensure the impurity is removed in its substance (smell, color, taste).

3. Managing the Heart and Doubt

Sometimes the devil whispers doubts. “Did this baby vomit earlier? Is its mouth pure?”. In fiqh, there is a principle: “Certainty is not removed by doubt.”

• If you **do not see** the baby vomit, then the baby’s mouth is originally **PURE**.
• Do not declare something impure based solely on suspicion.
• The ruling regarding forgiveness (being excused) discussed by Ibn Hajar applies when the impurity is real/certain (tahaqquq najasatiha) but is excused due to its difficulty to avoid. If the impurity itself is still doubtful, then the original ruling is purity.

Conclusion

Islam deeply understands the condition of a mother. The evidence from the books Fathul Mu’in and I’anah at-Talibin above is clear proof of Allah’s mercy through His Sharia.

The core of this guide is:

1. Rukhsah of the Nipple: The nipple of a breastfeeding mother whose baby frequently vomits is excused (ma’fu), and it is not obligatory to wash it every time she nurses.
2. Beware of Other Areas: This concession does not apply absolutely to the entire body. Cheeks (from kissing) and clothes (from touching) that are contaminated with vomit remain obligated to be purified.
3. General Rule: The difficulty in maintaining the cleanliness of the mouths of babies and the insane grants special tolerance in fiqh to interactions with their mouths.

Hopefully, this explanation will make mothers more at ease in their worship and in caring for their beloved children. We do not need to complicate things beyond what has been outlined by the scholars. Allah knows best.

Do not forget to continue praying for our children, and increase the sending of blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, so that our families are always blessed.

FAQ: Questions About Baby Fiqh and Impurity