Question:
As salamu alaykum,
What is the situation regarding a breastfeeding mother who has a difficult time keeping her clothing clean from the baby’s urine, poo, vomit, etc? What about things that the baby touches with its mouth after it vomits? We have a baby and its mother is always getting something on her. The baby spits up a lot. When it is time to pray it takes her so long that the baby gets left and starts to cry. What is the situation here? Thanks.
Country: United States
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
Infants’ mouths are excused, even when certain that they are impure. (Fath al-‘Allam v. 1, p. 365)
According to Imam Malik, when a breastfeeding woman takes precautions to avoid the baby’s filth, and impurities still manage to get on her garment, then it is excusable [‘afw]. She may perform the prayer as such, without washing her garments. But, it is recommended that she puts on a fresh garment for prayer. (Ibid v. 1, p. 365)
Sayyid Jurdani mentioned,
ومقتضى قواعد مذهبنا العفو أيضا لأن المشقة تجلب التيسير
“Being excused is in line with our School’s principles too; because difficulty brings about ease.” (Ibid)
Jurdani referred to Sh. Shihab Ramli’s Fath al-Jawwad with Rashidi’s commentary. This work is printed with Sh. al-Jamal’s Taqrirat in the margins (See: page 41). There, this view is stated, by both Sh. Rashidi and Sh. al-Jamal, to be in line with the School’s principles; while it is excusable only when she does not have the ability to change or when doing so entails significant difficulty.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.