The Sixth of the Things That Break the Fast: Intentional Vomiting, with Evidence.

The Shaykh : The sixth is intentional vomiting. Intentional vomiting means that a person vomits on purpose. Vomiting, I think, is known to everyone. If a person vomits on purpose by bringing food out of his stomach, he breaks his fast. But if vomiting overcomes him without his intention, he does not break his fast. Shall we proceed or not?

The questioner : The evidence.

The Shaykh : Yes, the evidence is necessary, and this is what I expect from a student of knowledge. We mentioned a principle just a moment ago: what is established by evidence is not removed except by evidence. So the fasting person asks: Where is the evidence that if a person intentionally vomits, his fast becomes invalid? Does he have an argument for this, or does he not? He has the argument. We say the evidence is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the evidence, and it is a report from a Companion. There is also a theoretical evidence, which is that vomiting weakens the body because it expels the food and drink in the stomach. And when the stomach is emptied of food and drink, the body weakens through fasting. So it is in accordance with the wisdom of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that vomiting should be a thing that breaks the fast. So we tell the fasting person: Do not vomit while fasting an obligatory fast. If you are compelled to do so and it becomes necessary to vomit, then in this state you break your fast, and it is permissible for you to eat and drink to restore to your body what it has lost of its strength. Good.