Are the Urine, Feces and Vomit of a Baby Filthy According to the Maliki School?

Answered by Ustadh Tariq Abdul-Rasheed

Question: Do the urine, stool, vomit etc of a baby count as najasa in the maliki madhab? The baby is both breast fed and formula fed.


As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Impurity of Urine and Feces

Urine and feces are both considered impure in the Maliki school whether from a child or an adult. [Hashiya Dusuqi]

Purity of Vomit and Burping (Belching)

Vomit is considered pure unless the color, taste or smell of it has changed from the original state of food after having been settled in the stomach. This is usually discernible if the vomit has acidified and/or has a foul odor. Vomit would also be considered impure if it resembles feces [Hashiya Dusuqi]

Burping accompanied with food or liquid (known as qalas) is considered pure unless it resembles feces. [Hashiya Dusuqi]

The difference between vomit and burping is that vomit is what is forced up from the stomach after having settled in the stomach. Whereas, burping accompanied with food or liquid is what is forced up from the stomach as a result of a full stomach. However, the food or drink never actually settles in the stomach.

Dispensation from removing filth for mothers and wet-nurses

Due to the difficulty of remaining free from filth while nursing a child the scholars have allowed a dispensation for nursing mothers and wet nurses. Meaning that if due precaution is taken to prevent impurities from reaching the body and clothes when the child urinates or defecates it is recommended and not obligatory to remove the filth (from the body or clothing) if it is excessive (even if she sees the filth).

This ruling also applies if she is in doubt about whether or not filth is on her body or clothing. That is, she is not obliged nor is it recommended to sprinkle water on her body or clothing if she has doubts about filth being on them.

Finally, it is recommended for her to have a separate set of clothes for prayer but not obligatory. [Hashiya Dusuqi]

This dispensation is based on the following verses of the Holy Quran and is the well-known opinion of the Maliki school:

“He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.” [Surah Hajj: 87]

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.” [Surah Baqarah: 286]

“For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” [Surah Sharh: 5]

Baraka Allahu feekum and Allah knows best.

Tariq Abdul-Rasheed


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