Answer:
Therefore, if the baby vomits less than a mouthful (the baby’s mouth will be taken into consideration, not an adult’s mouth), the vomit will be pure; and therefore if this vomit came on someone’s clothes, he can offer his salaat without washing off the vomit from his clothes.
If, on the other hand, the baby vomits more than a mouthful, the vomit will be impure. If all or part of this vomit lands on someone’s clothes, he will have to see to what extent the vomit spread on his clothes. If the vomit spread on his clothes to an area of 2.75 cm in diameter (approx. size of a 50 cents coin) or less, it will be permissible for him to perform his salaat without washing off the vomit, although it will be preferable to wash off the vomit before offering the salaat. If, however, the vomit spread on his clothes to an area of more than 2.75 cm in diameter, it will not be permissible for him to offer his salaat without washing off the vomit.
If the vomit is scattered on the clothes at a few places, all the besmeared areas will be combined to see if it equals to more than 2.75 cm in diameter.
The method of purifying clothes besmeared with vomit is to wash the besmeared area of the clothes with water until the vomit and its traces have disappeared. Once this is done, the clothes will become pure. This method of purifying the clothes is applicable only if the vomit is such that it will be visible if it becomes dry. If the vomit is such that it will not be visible if it becomes dry, then to purify the clothes, hold the besmeared area under running tap until at least three times the amount of water needed to immerse the besmeared section of the clothes in a utensil flows through the besmeared section of the clothes. For example, if according to your estimation a 100 ml of water will be needed to immerse the impure section of the clothes in a utensil, you should let at least 300 ml of water flow through the impure section from the running tap. Doing this once will purify the clothes.
The rulings mentioned above are only applicable if the baby vomited milk after the milk went to his stomach (even for a brief moment). If the baby spewed milk when the milk was still in his mouth or when it only reached his throat, the spewed milk will be pure.
(Tahtawi: pg 88-89; Imdaadul Fattah: pg. 86; Fatawa Rahimiya: 4/55; Fatawa Mahmudiya: 5/227; Raddul Muhtaar: 1/138 HM Saeed; Fatawa Hindiya: 1/42 Rashidiya; Ahsanul Fataawa 2/89, 95-96)
Mufti Faizal Riza
12/9/2011