Question:
Assalamu‘alaikum SS Datuk Mufti. I took some antacids (flatulence medication) and afterward threw up due to the side effects of the medicine. Does this invalidate my fast because it is considered to throw up on purpose (since it is known that throwing up may be one of the side effects)?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ ذَرَعَهُ قَيْءٌ، وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ، فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ، وَإِنْ اسْتَقَاءَ فَلْيَقْضِ
“If someone makes himself vomit while he is fasting, he has to make up a day, but if he cannot help vomiting, he does not have to make up anything.”
Sunan Abu Daud (2380)
Among the things that invalidate fasting is purposely throwing up. {See Matn Abi Syuja’, pg. 19). The meaning of throwing up on purpose (self-induced) is trying to vomit moving one’s tongue to the palate inducing nausea and vomiting. (See Zain al-Talib, 2/80)
Imam Abu Daud commented the above hadith stating, “Unintentional vomiting includes anything that would naturally lead to vomiting without any effort from the person, for example, when a fly accidentally entered one’s throat or accidental swallowing of water due to flood and anything similar to these situations, then it does not affect his fast.” (See Ma'alim al-Sunan, 2/112)
Throwing up on purpose is when someone forces himself to throw up. Unless if the vomit enters the stomach again with his own effort, then his fast is invalid. (See Hasyiah Syeikh Ibrahim al-Baijuri, 1/556)
In your situation, your fast is valid since your throwing up is not a result of you forcing yourself to throw up, but the side effects of the medicine that you take. Hopefully, we are able to maintain our fasting as best as we are able and complete our fast with conviction.